Couple arrested for allegedly stealing puppy from Glendale breeder

GLENDALE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — A man and woman are facing robbery charges after they allegedly stole a puppy and assaulted its owner last month in Glendale. Police have identified the suspects as 27-year-old Taylor Sines and 26-year-old Logan Niemann.

Around 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, Glendale police were called to a robbery at a home near 63rd Avenue and Butler Drive. During the investigation, police learned that Sines had arranged to meet a husky breeder to buy one of her puppies. During the meeting, Sines allegedly pushed the woman and took the puppy, then jumped into a truck being driven by Niemann.

Once police identified the suspects, officers served a search warrant at the couple’s home on June 7. Inside the home, detectives reportedly found the stolen husky puppy and another dog in a small shower in the bathroom. Police say the condition of the home was determined to be “inhumane and uninhabitable for an animal” and both dogs appeared to be skinny.

According to court documents, Sines told police she knew the dogs were in the home and that she had rescued them. Sines told officers she got the husky from Craigslist and said she paid a man $200 for it and left. When asked about stealing the puppy, police say Sines changed her story a couple of times but eventually admitted to stealing the puppy from Glendale. Sines denied remembering pushing the victim but said she handed the woman $60-$80 for the dog and said she told Niemann to ‘go’ and drive away after the incident, court docs say. According to police, Niemann admitted to driving Sines but said he stayed in the truck and didn’t know Sines had stolen the dog. The couple also told police the dogs spent two days covered in fecal matter.

Sines and Niemann were booked on charges including aggravated robbery and animal mistreatment.

The husky puppy has since been reunited with its rightful owners. Officers believe the second dog was also stolen and are trying to determine who it belongs to. If you have recently had a dog stolen and believe it could be yours, call the Glendale Police Department’s non-emergency line at (623) 930-3000 with a description of the dog and proof of ownership.

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