Over a dozen dogs released after break-in at San Bernardino shelter, person of interest detained

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- A person of interest was detained following a break-in at an animal shelter in the Inland Empire Wednesday morning.

Surveillance video shows a woman letting out about 25 dogs in the middle of the night from the San Bernardino City Animal Shelter.

The incident happened around 3:30 a.m.

"An individual was using some bolt cutters and cut the lock off our front gate and then cut the lock off the entry to our dog kennels. She then proceeded to cut open about ten dog kennels, letting the dogs loose," said Kristine Watson, director of the animal shelter.

Watson says an on-duty security guard fortunately noticed the dogs running around and called the police within minutes.

They say a woman was found nearby in possession of some of the dogs. Four of them were found in a dumpster.

Almost all the pups have been found.

"Except for one. We have little Louise, who's a spayed Chihuahua. She's spayed and microchipped. She is still missing and unaccounted for," Watson said.

One of the dogs has already been adopted.

The rest of the dogs that have been recovered are still available for adoption.

The San Bernardino Police Department isn't saying whether the woman who was found with the dogs is the same woman who broke into the shelter to let them out.

It is possible that the woman who was arrested had an outstanding warrant.

"We are still doing our investigations, gathering evidence and videos and talking to people who were in the area, so that we can arrest the correct subject who was responsible for this," said Lt. Jennifer Kohrell with the San Bernardino Police Department.

What happened could be a blessing in disguise because there's been a lot of interest from people coming to the shelter wanting to adopt.

"That's the benefit from this. We really need people to come out and adopt, foster or volunteer," Watson said.

The case remains under investigation.

"Normally, when people break into the shelter, they're breaking in just to get their dog out. This is the first time I've had the experience where someone is coming in to let all the dogs out," Watson said.