10 Missing Doberman Puppies May Be Connected to Breeder’s Death: Police

Colorado police are seeking the whereabouts of 10 Doberman puppies in connection to the death of a local dog breeder.
Paul Peavey, 57, was found dead on Saturday after being missing for several days, according to the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office. Peavey, a breeder of Doberman service dogs near Idaho Springs, Colorado, was last heard from on August 19 and was reported missing on Wednesday August 21 to authorities by Bruce Boynton, one of Peavey’s closest friends.
The circumstances surrounding Peavey’s death remain unclear, and no arrests have been made as of Tuesday.
However, investigators are focusing on locating 10 missing puppies, which they believe could be crucial in solving the case.
“It was reported that many Doberman puppies were missing from Mr. Peavey’s property. The puppies’ whereabouts are part of the ongoing investigation. In addition, investigators have not yet determined a motive for Mr. Peavey’s death,” the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post on Monday.
The sheriff’s office added: “We can confirm that many puppies are unaccounted for, possibly as many as 10, and we are asking for the public’s help…Locating Mr. Peavey’s unaccounted for puppies may also help solve his homicide.”
Newsweek reached out to the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s office via email on Tuesday for comment.
The puppies, born in mid-July, were being raised at Peavey’s business, Elite European Dobermans. According to police, each of the missing puppies is microchipped, making them traceable to Peavey’s operation.
The sheriff’s office suspects the puppies may have been sold online or through social media platforms since Peavey’s disappearance on August 20. They are urging anyone who purchased a Doberman puppy from the central Colorado area in the past week to come forward, adding that “we would then be able to determine if the puppy was one of Mr. Peavey’s.”
In addition, authorities also requested that anyone who has bought a puppy from Elite European Dobermans since June contact them. This will help establish the exact number of puppies unaccounted for.
“Please contact us if you received the puppy that was purchased or if you did not receive the puppy. This will help us determine exactly how many puppies are unaccounted for,” Clear Creek County Sheriff’s office said.
In an update shared on Facebook on Tuesday, the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s office said they have gotten several tips regarding puppies, including one about a Craigslist ad for Doberman puppies, but stated that breeder has cooperated and is not involved in the case.
“Please note that the Craigslist ad for Doberman puppies in the Colorado Springs area is legitimate. The breeder for that site was cooperative with investigators and is in no way involved in this case,” Clear Creek County Sheriff’s office said.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the puppies or about Peavey’s homicide is asked to call (303) 679-2393, email [email protected] or can remain anonymous by using the sheriff’s office’s website.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.