A judge on Thursday ordered a 19-year-old woman to pay about $1,700 in fines and restitution after she admitted she stole two puppies and dyed one blue and the other purple.
Sheila Marie Hoffart pleaded guilty to gross misdemeanor theft for stealing a Shih Tzu and a sheltie from Moorhead's K-9 Country Club and Pet Store.
Clay County District Judge Michael Kirk dismissed a felony theft charge, according to terms of a plea agreement.
If Hoffart fails to make fine payments or violates conditions of her two-year probation, she could face one year in jail.
Court records list Hoffart's address as 525 1st Ave. E., West Fargo, but Hoffart said she's since been evicted because of this court case.
ADVERTISEMENT
About $680 of the money Hoffart owes is for veterinary bills for the sheltie that nearly died because of an allergic reaction to the blue hair dye, said owner Terry Thompson.
Also an employee for K-9 Country Club, Thompson brought photos to show the judge how the dog is still missing hair on its face because of the dye.
The dog, which remained blue for about six weeks, had a cough for two months and has a weak immune system, Thompson said.
"You don't use a human dye on a puppy, it's cruel," she said.
Hoffart told the judge she dyed the dogs to make them more unique.
"We did it to other animals and it didn't hurt them," she said, referring to two cats she dyed red.
Hoffart represented herself at the hearing because her income was too high to qualify for a public defender, but she said she couldn't afford to hire an attorney.
She testified she put the Shih Tzu in her bag on Jan. 20 and left the pet store without paying for it because "the other dogs were being mean to it."
ADVERTISEMENT
On Feb. 10, Hoffart said she returned to the store to buy crickets and took the sheltie because it reminded her of a dog she used to have.
She said she gave the sheltie to her friend's mom, who later returned it to the store.
Hoffart's roommate returned the Shih Tzu, which has since been sold to a family, Thompson said.
Following the hearing, Thompson said she doesn't think Hoffart understands the harm she caused to the dogs.
"I was so upset to hear her play it off like it was nothing," Thompson said, adding she wished prosecutors would have filed animal cruelty charges.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Amy Dalrymple at (701) 241-5590
