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Was this puppy saved, or just stolen?

A man is accused of breaking into All About Puppies pet store and stealing a $3,000 English bulldog puppy. But his wife says he had a noble motive.

By YUXING ZHENG
Published October 1, 2005

	Darla spent Friday resting and will be back up for sale Monday at All About Puppies. The manager says the store does not euthanize puppies.

LARGO - Nicole Graham said what her husband did Thursday night was an act of love.

Largo police call it a felony.

Damien Robert Graham, 32, broke in through a front window at 7:28 p.m. and stole a $3,000 English bulldog puppy from the All About Puppies pet store, Officer James Shinn said.

Officers used a police dog to track Graham to a bar across the street from All About Puppies, 7190 Ulmerton Road.

People outside asked police if they were looking for a man with a bloody arm who had just passed carrying a puppy, Shinn said.

The police dog then led officers to the nearby Grandview Apartments, where officers found Graham standing at a corner.

After questioning him, police found the puppy in his apartment.

His roommate said Graham had brought the puppy home minutes before, Shinn said.

Graham had visited the light-brown and white puppy named Darla two weeks ago, Shinn said.

"He didn't have the money to purchase it, and he got tired of waiting and decided to break in and steal it," Shinn said.

Paramedics treated Graham for superficial cuts on his left arm and head, Shinn said.

Graham was charged with one count of burglary and was being held Friday at the Pinellas County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Nicole Graham said Friday a female employee at the puppy store hinted two weeks ago that the business would euthanize Darla soon if no one purchased the dog. Her husband was simply trying to save Darla on Thursday, she said.

All About Puppies manager Trudy Eacret said Friday her store does not euthanize puppies.

"They all stay here until they sell," she said. "These are like our own babies."

Darla, 31/2 months old, spent Friday resting away from her usual metal pen, bed of shredded paper and green alligator squeaky toy.

The 7-inch, 14-pound puppy - the most expensive one in the store - will be back on sale Monday.

Eacret said her store can track all of its puppies.

"All puppies are microchipped, so if anybody else wants to try this as a profession, you're going to get caught," she said.

--Yuxing Zheng can be reached at 727 445-4163 or at yzheng@sptimes.com

[Last modified October 1, 2005, 01:45:17]