Deputies with the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office have charged Tyreek Jamal Blair, 17, and a 15-year-old boy with Petit Larceny for stealing a dog now known as "Spanky."
Last week the two climbed a fence at the Marlboro County Humane Society animal shelter and stole the American bulldog, according to Deputy Jeffery Locklear.
Spanky had been rescued three weeks earlier from an abandoned home where he was chained up.
Bennettsville police found him five days later at a home on Miles Street in Bennettsville.
Spanky is now in Maryland with the family that adopted him.
Blair was arraigned Tuesday afternoon and has been released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond.
The 15-year-old was released to his grandmother.
Humane Society members had feared Spanky was stolen to be used as bait for a dogfighting operation. The teenagers say they stole the dog because they wanted a pet and never intended to use him for dogfighting, according to Deputy Locklear.
Humane Society members say they're relieved arrests have been made.
"We would like to make a statement that things like that will not be tolerated anymore. We are here for the rights of the animal. We are bringing these cases to court," said Jennifer Hyduke Marlboro County Humane Society.
She says they've learned a lot from Spanky's theft and have beefed up security at the shelter.
"We had a donation after this happened. Someone sent us a check to buy the video camera system. It has been installed. We have an alarm system inside the building. So we have made some changes we've learned our lesson the hard way."
