The owner of a dog that died after it was reportedly kidnapped during a car theft has been charged by detectives in a major twist in the case, Daily Mail can reveal.
Arnie the German shepherd was said to have been sleeping in his owner Nathan McKeown’s ute when the vehicle was reportedly stolen outside a Wynnum home, in Brisbane‘s east, between 1.30am and 5am on November 8.
It sparked a week-long frantic search to find Arnie, with his desperate owners launching a viral social media campaign and offering a $6000 reward for his return.
The alleged theft captured the hearts of thousands of Australians, before the family pet was tragically found dead inside the ute on Amelia street, in the city’s nightlife hub, Fortitude Valley, on November 17.
Following inquiries from Daily Mail on Thursday, Queensland Police announced they will allege the car was not stolen and the owner had left the dog in the ute in Fortitude Valley.
McKeown has now been charged with one count of breach of duty of care of animal by failing to provide under the Animal Protection Act.
‘The owner of the vehicle has assisted police with these investigations, and it has now been established that a criminal offence of unlawful use of motor vehicle has not occurred,’ a spokesperson said.
‘It will be alleged shortly after 10.30pm on November 7, the male owner drove the vehicle into Amelia Street in Fortitude Valley and left the vehicle on foot.
‘It will be further alleged that Arnie was left inside the vehicle.’
Nathan McKeown has been arrested over the death of his German Shepherd, Arnie, who was reportedly stolen earlier this month
The German Shepherd Arnie went missing when the ute he was sleeping in was reportedly stolen in the early hours of the morning in Wynnum, Brisbane on November 8
McKeown allegedly told his partner, Louise, the following day that the car had been stolen and she filed a police report.
Police will allege that Ms McKeown was not aware that the vehicle had not in fact been stolen.
McKeown is expected to appear before a Brisbane Court next month.
A Facebook page dedicated to the search for Arnie was abruptly taken down on Thursday morning.
During the search campaign, McKeown said he had the eight-year-old German Shepherd with him when he dropped in to visit friends on Davidson St, at Wynnum, on November 8.
His friend’s Kelpie didn’t get along with Arnie, so he put his dog in the back canopy of his black Toyota HiLux and gave him some water.
When Mr McKeown went to leave several hours later, both his ute and Arnie were gone.
‘I went and met one of my mates, he picked me up, we drove around looking up streets, checking car parks seeing if it had been abandoned,’ the father-of-one told Seven News last week.
Brisbane couple Louise and Nathan McKeown spent a week pleading for the return of their beloved German Shepherd Arnie before the search came to a tragic end
Arnie’s owners, the McKeown family, led a desperate search to find their beloved pet dog
‘I would have heard him if he barked, he probably thought it was me getting in the ute.’
Mr McKeown issued countless online community appeals as Queensland Police worked around the clock following all lines of enquiry to locate Arnie and the stolen vehicle.
The search came to a heartbreaking end on the weekend after a member of the public located the vehicle parked on Amelia Street with Arnie dead inside.
‘Unfortunately there isn’t a better outcome and Arnie was found… deceased, still in the back of the ute that was stolen,’ the family posted on Tuesday.
‘We are beyond devastated. He didn’t deserve to go like this!! We had the best life with him and he is going to be so missed.’
‘We sincerely want to thank everyone for all your help over the past week in the search for our boy Arnie.
‘Police are following up all CCTV footage and leads.’
Mr McKeown’s wife, Louise, and their five-year-old daughter were just as devastated about their missing pet.
Louise McKeown (pictured) has previously said Arnie knew she was pregnant before she did
‘He (Arnie) knew I was pregnant before I did,’ she said.
‘We’ve been through a lot with him, we just want him back. He’s very special. We just hope he’s being looked after, he’s a big dog, but he’s a big friendly giant.’
The couple spent a week driving around frantically trying to track down Arnie, calling vets and the local pounds.
They even hired a pet detective and offered a $6000 reward for Arnie.
‘Please just return our dog, you can keep the ute, we don’t need the ute, we just want our pet back,’ Mr McKeown pleaded at the time.
Queensland Police previously said that reports of ‘Arnie’ sightings took officers across the Brisbane region and surrounding districts, though none were substantiated.
Investigations remain ongoing.
‘Media and the public are thanked for their extensive assistance throughout the investigation,’ Queensland Police said on Thursday.
‘Police are aware this has been a highly publicised case, and offences of this nature may cause distress and upset members of the public.
‘The Queensland Police Service requests that the public are respectful of the matter’s progression through the courts.
‘The QPS takes animal care seriously.’
