Editor’s Note:Bella’s owner told the Valley Indy April 3 that his dog was never stolen, but had been given away by his wife, unbeknownst to him. Derby police are investigating. Click here for more information.
Original story from March 13 follows below.
A Stratford family is frantic after someone apparently stole their 7‑year-old yellow lab from their car at the Home Deport off Main Street in Derby.
“My wife is absolutely devastated,” William Novotny told the Valley Indy Wednesday (March 13).
Novotny said his wife stopped at Home Deport Monday about 10:30 a.m. to buy a can of paint. She left Bella, the family dog, in the car, which was parked a good distance from the Home Depot entrance.
A window in the car was left open about 4 inches, Novotny said.
His wife was in Home Deport for about 10 minutes. When she returned to her car, the dog was gone. The dog does not have a microchip identifying its owner.
The dog was wearing two slip-chain collars.
“My wife found both of those, neatly folded under the seat,” Novotny said.
He thinks someone reached into the car, unlocked the door, removed the collars and stole the dog.
Novotny said Derby police were notified. Someone posted the information on See, Click, Fix in an effort to recover the dog.
As of Wednesday evening, no yellow labs from Derby were in the Woodbridge Animal Control Facility.
Woodbridge handles Derby animal control issues.
Novotny is offering a $500 reward for Bella’s return.
The dog has a liver problem and needs medication, he said.
Novotny can be reached at (203) 520‑3518.
