A dog trainer whose nine animals died after a fire broke out in her Burnaby home earlier this week has suffered another loss.
On Wednesday night, someone broke into Dove Cresswell’s basement suite at 4911 Fulwell St. The house had been boarded up by fire crews following a blaze Tuesday evening, and that’s how the thief or thieves got in, according to Burnaby RCMP Staff Sgt. Major John Buis.
“They stole a bunch of personal gear and electronics from the home, (including) a video camera with some storage devices,” he said. “(The home) certainly didn’t look abandoned. However, it was a very topical discussion throughout that area.”
The fire erupted just before 8 p.m. Cresswell, who runs a dog training company, had stepped out for less than two hours to teach a dog agility class, according to a GoFundMe page.
When she returned home, she noticed smoke and called 911. There were nine dogs and three cats inside, some crated for safety. Seven dogs and two cats died due to smoke inhalation (three were her own, while the other four were ones she was watching for friends).
“Jared and I ran in and out bringing them out until the firemen stopped us,” Cresswell wrote on the GoFundMe page. “I held and cuddled every one and told them I loved them.
“My heart and world are completely shattered by this. Shattered."
Cresswell trained canines for flicks such as Marley and Me 2: The Puppy Years, Once Upon A Time and Marmaduke. She and her dogs have garnered numerous podium placements over the years at the Agility Association of Canada Nationals. In total, she has fostered over 75 dogs in her home in the last nine years, according to her company website, DogWorks.
As for the items taken, Buis is encouraging anyone who saw anything to call the local detachment or Crime Stoppers. There are no suspects at the moment, and the investigation is ongoing, he said.
“It’s a terrible crime. Not only the fire and losing those animals but then also being subjected to this, somebody going in and stealing your personal property and the images of her pets, it must be devastating for her.”
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*Correction: an earlier version of this story said 10 animals died. The number is actually nine.
