Shelter Dog Steals Everything He Can Find For The Sweetest Reason

"Definitely clothing, he’s stolen loose change, a purse, a boxed sandwich (he didn’t eat it, just took it)."

Kevin’s family surrendered him to the Austin Animal Center in November, and he’s been there ever since. Recently, due to some space issues, the 4-year-old Lab mix was moved out of the kennels and into one of the offices — and that’s when things suddenly started to go missing around the office. 

It didn’t take long for his new office friends to discover that sweet Kevin had a bit of a stealing problem

shelter dog steals
Austin Animal Center

Whenever someone in the office left their things unattended, their new office dog would sneakily survey their stuff and take whatever he wanted back to his bed with him. He would later be found lounging on piles of his pilfered goods, seeming very content and proud of himself. 

“It started a few weeks ago when the staff members who share an office with Kevin noticed he was acquiring human items,” Jennifer Olohan, a staff member at Austin Animal Center, told The Dodo. “All kinds of things! Definitely clothing, he’s stolen loose change, a purse, a boxed sandwich (he didn’t eat it, just took it). He carries them to his bed and creates a little nest of his treasures.”

shelter dog steals
Austin Animal Center

Kevin shows no remorse for his stealing habit, and everyone quickly realized it was because he was actually stealing his friends’ things for the sweetest reason. 

“Our guess is that it makes him feel closer to the people he spends his days with,” Olohan said. “He doesn’t steal when someone is with him, only once they leave, and maybe he’s feeling lonely. So he’ll take a shirt that smells like the person he misses.”

shelter dog steals
Austin Animal Center

After everything he’s been through with losing his family and having no idea when another one will come along to adopt him, it seems that Kevin is just trying to hold onto the people in his life — by whatever means necessary. His stolen items mean a great deal to him, and he’s always very reluctant to give them back to their rightful owners. 

“Kevin isn’t a fan of people trying to take his treasures,” Olohan said. “He will guard his items, so when he’s taken out for a walk is the best opportunity for staff to get their things back.”

shelter dog steals
Austin Animal Center

Kevin absolutely adores being around people, and besides his quirky stealing habit, he is very much a typical Lab. He loves going for walks and playing with toys, and, of course, cuddling up with the people who love him. 

shelter dog steals
Austin Animal Center

Kevin would love a home with other animal siblings to play with and keep him company, and is great with both cats and dogs. Other than that, all he needs is a family who loves him. It’s possible that Kevin’s stealing habit will subside once he feels safe and secure in his new home — but it’s also possible that old habits die hard.

“I’d suggest a fairly tidy family, so that Kevin isn’t able to steal too many things,” Olohan said.

If you’re interested in adopting Kevin, you can contact the Austin Animal Center for more information.