After Cat Goes Missing, Westfield Woman Wants Pet Theft Penalties

WESTFIELD, NJ — Helen Delpopolo of Westfield says that last year, when she believed her cat was stolen by an acquaintance, police seemed only interested in the cost of the cat and not her urgent need to get her family member back.

After a caper that involved her hiring a private investigator, winding up arrested, and having to spend $19,000 on lawyers, Delpopolo says, she was reunited with her pet and charges against her were dropped. But her fight is not over.

Delpopolo now wants law enforcement to take animal theft more seriously, not just see it as theft of property. Her petition, "Criminalize Animal Theft In New Jersey," recently got a boost from a case involving a pet sitter in Jersey City, and now has 3,680 signatures.

"I thought my story was just an odd one that wouldn’t occur often," Delopolo explained last week, "but now with what has happened to Diego and Mac [in Jersey City] and after doing research to find out 2 million domesticated pets are stolen each year, I know this will continue to happen until the law is changed."

In a case that went viral on social media earlier this month, a Jersey City resident named Diego Chaves left his beloved goldendoodle dog, Mac, with a pet sitter while he went on vacation. READ MORE: Jersey City Dog That Went Missing With Sitter Has Died: Owner

When Chaves returned from vacation, he couldn't reach the sitter, who eventually sent him an email saying the dog had gotten loose. Chaves posted on social media on July 7 that the dog had been brought to a vet and was now deceased, but he was not ready to talk about how or when the dog died. Jersey City police are investigating.

A vigil was held in Hoboken for Mac last Friday, and drew more than 100 mourners, some in tears. READ MORE: Vigil Held In Hoboken For Mac The Jersey City Dog

Many who mourned Mac said they hope some good could come out of the situation. They have asked followers to sign petitions like Delpopolo's and push for change in the animal care industry.

"In just one day we are almost at 2,000 signatures and climbing," Delpopolo wrote to Patch last Saturday, the day after the vigil.

Delpopolo explains on the petition, "In New Jersey, there are no laws to place criminal action against the theft of our animal family members. What laws apply are civil complaints pertaining to property. The painful part of that, is the civil complaint can only be if the animal was purchased ... If you rescued your animal, there is no monetary value."

Delpopolo said last summer, after she discovered her beloved cat missing, she had reason to believe an acquaintance had taken it, but the police didn't seem alarmed. She tried to retrieve the pet herself.

Delpopolo, who is also a middleweight champion in Sumo wrestling, wound up being accused. She presented documents to Patch this week to show that the charges against her were dropped.

Delopopolo's fight for increased penalties has gotten a boost from another source. She says she recently spoke with Assemblyman Jon Bramnick about it.

"[We] are in the early process of creating and sponsoring a bill to go to legislation in the fall," she said. "We are making change happen so something like this is much less likely to happen to anyone else. #JusticeforMac."

You can read the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/new-jersey-state-senate-criminalize-animal-theft-in-new-jersey

Find out more about Mac here: Jersey City Prosecutor Calls On City To Offer Pet Care Courses

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