'Baxter' returned to Humane Society; Meredith woman will be charged

LACONIA — The same day the New Hampshire Humane Society went public with the theft of one of the animals under its care, the woman suspected of stealing a puppy returned the animal to the non-profit shelter on Meredith Center Road. The dog, which had recently been transported from North Carolina, was allegedly taken around mid-day on Saturday, when the shelter typically experiences its busiest hours.

Laconia Police Sergeant Dennis Ashley said yesterday that Lenor Jones, 31, of Jenness Hill Road in Meredith, is being investigated by police. She has yet to be charged and arrested, though Ashley expected police would soon seek a warrant to charge her with theft by unauthorized taking, a misdemeanor.

The shelter is located in far north Laconia and Jenness Hill Road in Meredith begins in Meredith Center, a relatively short distance from the building.

"We're definitely pressing charges," said Marylee Gorham, public relations director for the Humane Society. She reported that "Baxter" was the third animal stolen from the shelter in recent memory. Like him, all three were ultimately recovered, though none as quickly as "Baxter."

"I'm really, really pleased that the dog was recovered as quickly as he was," said Gorham.

According to Gorham, Jones returned "Baxter," a three month-old, 12-pound miniature pinscher, Wednesday morning, the same day that articles about the theft appeared in local newspapers. In those articles, Gorham gave a physical description of the woman which surveillance footage seemed to show taking the dog and placing into a blue Volkswagen Golf. Gorham was quoted in the coverage as saying that "Baxter" had been micro-chipped and would be identified as a stolen dog if he ever were brought to a veterinarian or local shelter.

As Gorham relayed, Jones explained the act by saying she was having "a bad day" on Saturday, when she allegedly decided to steal the animal.

"Baxter" was reportedly in good spirits after being returned to the shelter. However, Gorham said he had an "odd wound" on his leg, a "rubbed, raw spot" that he didn't have prior to the alleged abduction. Medical staff will be working to identify the cause of the injury and clear him for adoption.

"He's had quite the whirlwind," Gorham said, noting that the sometimes-shy puppy seemed to be reveling in the sudden attention.

On Saturday, a family from Gilford was filling out paperwork to adopt "Baxter" when staff noticed his absence. That family adopted another dog at the shelter and Gorham said ethics of the industry prevented her from contacting the family and inviting them to adopt a second puppy.

Gorham said staff at the shelter were relieved that the situation resolved itself as it did and that "Baxter" could be placed with a caring and safe household. "Our biggest and most urgent worry was that he would simply be traded for cash," she said.

She said the staff was also grateful of the recent donation of the surveillance cameras, footage from which played a significant role in pressuring Jones to come forward. "This is the reason we have to have them," she said, noting that the footage is not used to penalize persons who carefully relinquish a pet on the property outside of business hours, though staff would prefer that the animals are brought at a time when they can be placed directly in the hands of shelter staff.