Washington pet sitter accused of stealing and selling a dog in August is facing felony charges

Jack Belcher / The Bellingham Herald (TNS)

Bellingham police have arrested a woman accused of stealing a dog she was fostering as a pet in August, claiming it ran away.

Katelyn Emmaline McLean, 20, was working as a dog sitter for an out-of-town person. When the owner returned, McLean claimed she had lost the dog, according to Megan Peters of the Bellingham Police Department. She then dyed the dog green to hide it, Peters said.

Several people reported to the dog's original owner that they had seen McLean with the pet after it was “lost.”

Police spoke to McLean about the possible theft in early October, and she repeated to officers her claim that she lost the dog in August.

McLean is accused of selling the dog for $500 to a third party, who then took the dog to Whatcom Humane Society to have it registered. Since the dog was already registered, the buyer learned that the dog was stolen.

The buyer and McLean then took the dog to the Bellingham police station to report the incident. Peters said it was unclear how she got the dog back after selling it. McLean reportedly admitted to stealing the dog and said she did so because she suspected the original owner of neglecting the animal, according to police.

McLean was arrested Oct. 14 and later charged with first-degree trafficking in stolen property, a Class B felony; and gross misdemeanors of taking/hiding a pet and making a false statement to an officer.

She was released from the Whatcom County Jail and released the same day.

Peters said the dog was returned to the original owner by an officer after McLean was arrested on Oct. 14, more than two months after he was taken from his owner.

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