Cousins arrested for stealing dogs from Hernando animal shelter

BROOKSVILLE, Fla. - Four of the dogs allegedly stolen from the Humane Society's Brooksville shelter last week have been found, according to the Hernando Sheriff's Office.

Two cousins, 20-year-old Jose Navarro and 26-year-old Juan Claudio, are now charged with commercial burglary

Friday deputies following on a tip found 2 of the stolen puppies in the 16000 block of Fullington Road and began to canvas the neighberhood.

During the search deputies arrived at the home the cousins share, and noticed a small brown Dachshund that matched the description of one of the stolen dogs when Claudio's wife answered the door, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Jennifer Kores told deputies her husband and his cousin had brought the dogs home on Wednesday, but said the men didn't tell her where they got them.

After warrants were issued for both men, Claudio turned himself in at the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, while Navarro was taken into custody at the Hernando County Jail.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Navarro told deputies that he went over the fence at the Humane Society of the Nature Coast, while Claudio crawled under it, in order to break in to the shelter.   

He told deputies that they took 4 dogs at random, but said they didn't take a 5th dog they saw running around.

Claudio told deputies they took the dogs to sell because Navarro owed a man some money.

A tan pit bull/chow puppy  that investigators say was also stolen in last week's burglary has not been found.  Detectives are also looking for an older female pit bull that was taken in a separate burglary last month

If you know where either of those dogs are, you are urged to call the Hernando County Sheriff's office at 352-754-6830.