HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — A man has been arrested after six 3-week-old husky puppies were stolen during a burglary Friday at a Hampton pet salon, and the crime was caught on video.
Hampton Police say the suspect was a homeless man identified as 50-year-old Rodney Jackson. Jackson has been charged with breaking and entering, grand larceny, grand larceny with intent to sell and 6 counts of animal larceny.
Three of the puppies have been recovered and reunited with their mother. 10 On Your is still learning more regarding the current condition of the remaining three puppies.
“The puppies are not going to survive without their mom,” said Critter Cleaners owner and breeder Bandi Murdock. “They’re still dependent upon their mother and puppies at that age eat every two to four hours, so the clock is ticking on the puppies.”
Murdock keeps the dogs at her grooming salon because her staff helps care for the dogs, and they get socialization. She is desperate to get them back.
“Just drop them off at animal control, bring them here, drop them off on our porch, anything, take them to the police station, I don’t care, just bring them back,” she said.
In a news release, police said they were notified about the burglary at Critter Cleaners in the 5100 block of West Mercury Boulevard at 7:36 a.m. Friday morning.
The preliminary investigation found the suspect entered through a window and removed the puppies and cash. Police did not have a photo with their release Friday morning, but 10 On Your Side obtained surveillance video showing the suspect’s face.
“He came in about 1:30 a.m. through a window, broke the window off the hinge,” said Murdock. “Watched TV, took a shower.”
She says the suspect also tore the back surveillance camera off of the wall, so they were unable to see when he left, but believe he was inside for hours.
The mother of the puppies is in distress, said Libby Howard, who sent photos of the dogs. There are five females and one male.
A photo of the husky puppies and their mother. The six puppies were reported stolen from Critter Cleaners in Hampton on Jan. 21, 2022. (Photo courtesy of Libby Howard) 
A photo of the husky puppies and their mother. The six puppies were reported stolen from Critter Cleaners in Hampton on Jan. 21, 2022. (Photo courtesy of Libby Howard) 
The six puppies were reported stolen from Critter Cleaners in Hampton on Jan. 21, 2022. (Photo courtesy: Kevin Kramer) 
A photo of a man who stole six puppies from Critter Cleaners in Hampton on Jan. 21, 2022. (Photo courtesy: Kevin Kramer)
Howard says a reward is being offered.
She was one of the first people to walk into the grooming salon this morning.
“We walked in here and it was a total mess,” Howard said. “It’s dire at this point, they’re running out of time, they’ve been gone since 3 a.m.. Puppies need to be fed every three hours or so at three weeks old. Its too cold outside. We’re worried, we’re very worried.”
“NO QUESTIONS ASKED WE JUST WANT THE DOGS BACK !” a Facebook post from her reads.
