Police find 14 show dogs stolen from In-N-Out Burger in California

REDDING, Calif. — A van full of 14 stolen show dogs has been found, almost 24 hours after someone stole it from an In-N-Out parking lot in Northern California Wednesday afternoon.

Someone found the van on a dirt road near the intersection of Canyon and Valley View roads, just southeast of Win-River Resort & Casino.

Linda Leffel, the owner of one of the dogs, said she heard the news and was "hoping that it's the truth."

"I am just praying that they're all OK," she said.

Officers said the dogs were given water and were all alive, but they were being taken to Haven Humane Society for treatment.

Dispatchers initially said some dogs could be heard barking inside, but the van was found locked. They also said a Chow Chow dog could be seen inside.

There are at least seven patrol cars on scene.

Sgt. Todd Cogle said a call came in from an anonymous citizen reporting the van parked in a wooded area, and officers broke a window to get inside. He said the van was found in an area with homeless encampments nearby, but nobody was there at the time.

There haven't been any arrests or suspects identified, he said.

Meanwhile, Capt. Lee Anne Smith with Haven said the dogs were hungry, but doing well.

Tony Carter, owner of the van was in tears at the scene and hadn't been allowed to access the van.

There haven't been any arrests made, but people in the area are being questioned.

The van was stolen from the Dana Drive In-N-Out parking lot just before 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, officers have said.

It's being processed for fingerprints, officers said.

Officers said whoever stole the van broke a window, stole some possessions and the keys, and left it behind with the dogs.

Carter, the dogs' trainer from Washington, said he left the van running when he went inside the restaurant so that the dogs would be cool in the air conditioning, and the suspects snatched it up within four minutes.

There had been a $30,000 reward for the dogs, who were on their way to an event in Vallejo.

Follow Alayna Shulman, Jim Schultz and Damon Arthur on Twitter @ashulman_RS, @JimSchultz_RS and @damonarthur_RS

WSBTV