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Colorado police hope missing puppies hold key to dog breeder’s suspicious death: ‘This is such a rare case’
Colorado police hope a missing litter of purebred Doberman puppies could be the key to solving the suspicious death of a decorated dog breeder, “a rare case” that left the dog community with jaws on the ground, one expert said.
Paul Peavey, 57, was found dead on his 110-acre Idaho Springs property by a search party of concerned family members on Saturday.
Although his three adult dogs were unharmed and brought to an area animal shelter, sheriff’s office communication manager Jenny Fulton said on Wednesday that his latest litter of as many as 10 puppies was nowhere to be found.
Police believe the animals, each of which was microchipped, were sold on social media. Anyone who has purchased a Doberman puppy in the Colorado area since Peavey was last seen alive on Aug. 19 is asked to contact the department or bring the animal to a shelter or veterinary office where it can be scanned.
“This is such a rare case that our jaws were on the ground,” American Kennel Club spokesperson Brandi Hunter Munden told Fox News Digital. “We don’t see this – this is not what the sport is made of. It’s tragic to see that this man lost his life, especially because he dedicated his life to dogs. This is not typical behavior among dog breeders. This is definitely different.”
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Paul Peavey, 57, was last heard from on the evening of Aug. 19 and was found dead on his Idaho Springs property on Aug. 24. (Facebook/Elite European Dobermans)
Fulton said Peavey delivered two litters this summer, and anyone who purchased an animal directly from Peavey’s Elite European Dobermans business since June is also asked to contact Clear Creek County detectives. The department wrote in its social media post that “this will help [them] determine how many puppies are unaccounted for.”
“We’ve gotten over 40 tips related to this investigation; probably 25 of those are related to puppies,” Fulton said. “Of those, there are probably half a dozen who have purchased a puppy from Paul.”
The department has not disclosed the condition that Peavey was found in, only saying that they suspect foul play was involved in his death. Fulton said further information will be released after his autopsy.
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As many as 10 Doberman puppies were missing from Peavey’s property when he was found dead. They were all microchipped, and detectives hope they will be found and provide a lead in the unsolved case. (Facebook/Elite European Dobermans)
“We haven’t quite come to a determination on motive yet,” Fulton said.
Police do not believe that there is a danger to the public, the department wrote in its press release.
“Dog flipping” – the practice of stealing high-value dogs and selling them on Craigslist for a profit – is on the rise in many parts of the United States, according to the FACE Foundation (Foundation for Animal Care and Education).
Although it’s rare, breeders have fallen victim to mass thefts of their purebred dogs. In 2022, for example, a Long Island, New York, dog breeder’s home was broken into by thieves, according to ABC 7, and five French bulldog puppies and two adult dogs were stolen.
“Normally, a dog theft is something quick; they snatch the dog away because it’s outside, from its human. But you generally don’t hear about breeders being targeted in this way,” Munden said.
Paul Peavey is pictured at a Colorado Kennel Club show in February 2024 with his prized stud, Jax Von Maximus. (Facebook/Elite European Dobermans)
Victims of dog flipping are generally targeted in advance, Munden said.
“Someone is aware that they have a litter or an expensive dog breed. It’s someone who had to pay attention,” she said.
Dog trainer Tom Davis told Fox News Digital that purebred Dobermans sell for between $1,000 and $5,000.
Although Peavey did not disclose pricing for his dogs on his website, he priced stud services from his prized male, Jax Maximus Von Zipper, at $7,500.
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We are reviving Curious Alaska, a popular feature launched by the Anchorage Daily News in 2021.
The idea is simple: You have questions. Our reporters find answers. We share them with readers.
Maybe you’re curious about a landmark (like the Parks Highway Igloo, pictured below), or a tradition, a news event or a public figure from the past. Maybe you have a practical question about everyday life in Alaska.
On our initial run, we tackled more than 30 topics that readers inquired about.
Some examples of reader questions we’ve looked into so far include why we don’t have a Trader Joe’s here, whether there are snakes in Alaska, why sand dunes exist in Kincaid Park and the story behind cattle herds on remote islands in the state.
No topic is too offbeat for you to pitch. We’ll choose a question at a time and try our best to answer it. Send in yours using the form below. (Having trouble seeing the form? Try here.)
Top moments from CNN California governor debate recap
Breaking down key takeaways, highlights, and analysis from the CNN California governor debate, including standout moments and candidate contrasts.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that newborn babies in California will start receiving free diapers as part of a new “first-in-the-nation” initiative to support families across the state with the rising cost of living.
Newsom, along with state leaders, met in San Francisco on Friday, May 8 to unveil California’s new partnership with Baby2Baby, a national nonprofit that provides diapers to children in need, and to explain how this new program will provide families with 400 “high-quality” diapers before they leave the hospital.
Over the last six years, families have seen the average cost of diapers increase by 45% or “thousands plus dollars a year,” which has made raising a family unattainable for some, Newsom said during the press conference.
“Every baby born in California deserves a healthy start in life — and that means making sure parents have the basics they need from day one,” Newsom said. “One out of four families skip meals in order to pay for diapers.”
“The biggest problem defined universally, in our cities, our state and our nation, is the issue of affordability. This is what affordability looks like; it’s not a slogan, it’s a box. A box of diapers,” Newsom added.
This new effort will be known as Golden State Start, as California uses its bulk purchasing power to obtain 40 million high-quality diapers in hopes of easing financial strain for families and supporting infant health by helping parents maintain an adequate supply of clean diapers.
“The first days at home with a newborn should be focused on the love, connection, and joy of an expanded family, not stress about affording diapers,” said Kim Johnson, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. “This program helps ensure families can begin that journey with greater stability and peace of mind.”
The program is expected to start at the beginning of this summer in participating California hospitals. The list of participating hospitals was not released at the time of publication, but Newsom noted that the state was in talks with at least 60 hospitals across California.
During the first year of the program, CalRx and Baby2Baby noted that they would prioritize hospitals that serve large numbers of Medi-Cal patients to ensure low-income families benefit early from the program. The state plans to scale the program to additional hospitals and birthing centers over time.
Newsom noted that this program is expected to grow: In 2027, the state is set to purchase 80 million diapers from manufacturers, with the goal of eventually purchasing up to 160 million.
“California families deserve to feel supported during one of life’s more exciting, yet vulnerable transitions,” Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the first partner, said in a press release. “Golden State Start will deliver immediate relief, allowing parents to focus on what matters most — caring for their newborn. Together with Baby2Baby, we can ease the financial burden on California parents while supporting healthier outcomes for babies and their mothers.”
Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian.
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