A handful of East Bay pet owners already struggling with the loss of their furry family members are now facing new heartache.
Security camera footage from Saturday shows two people smashing through the front door at the Central Boulevard Veterinary Hospital in Brentwood. The thieves took four urns filled with the cremated remains of animals.
“Why even rob a place like this?” Brentwood resident Pat Ireland said. “They’re family-owned. They’re lovely people. We love bringing our pets here.”
The burglary is also hitting home for Jennifer Guzman, who said when the unfortunate day arrives, she plans to have her dog cremated at the hospital — a place she has been coming to for the past 19 years.
“I can only imagine what they’re going through,” Guzman said.
Customers and the hospital’s manager expressed the deepest regret for the affected pet owners.
“They are actual family members to our clients, and I cannot even imagine what they are going through,” Central Boulevard Veterinary Hospital Manager Zarah Mehr said. “It’s irreplaceable.”
After surveying the damage and surveillance video, managers were able to take an inventory inside and noticed cardstock footprints, as well as fur clippings for pets that had come in to be cremated, were missing.
Security footage also shows one of the thieves frantically searching for cash or any other valuables around the cash drawer.
Mehr said police are reviewing the security video and other evidence. She is urging the thieves to do the right thing, for the sake of the pets’ families, and return the keepsakes or leave them where someone can find them.
The pets’ owners have all been notified and cremation costs were refunded.
