Fuel stolen from Spokane Humane Society

The Spokane Humane Society was targeted early Thursday morning by a gasoline thief, who siphoned fuel out of two vehicles used to transport animals.

The nonprofit’s surveillance camera captured footage of a man arriving in a gray station wagon – possibly a Subaru Forester – between 3 and 4 a.m. at 6607 N. Havana St.

The man emptied more than 35 gallons from the nonprofit’s green pickup truck and Chevrolet Suburban.

The Spokane Humane Society uses the vehicles on a regular basis to pick up supplies as well as deliver animals to and from adoption centers and veterinary appointments, said Pia Hallenberg, development director.

“We need to have gas in the tanks because we never know when we have to go somewhere,” Hallenberg said. “Sometimes, we have to take our animals to the clinic.”

The gas theft is a setback for the nonprofit because it relies on private donations and fundraisers.

“We don’t get any government funding,” Hallenberg said. “We are very careful on how we spend our money.”

The Spokane Humane Society is the second nonprofit in East Central targeted by gas thieves this week. Feed Spokane Inc., which helps provide food to more than 16,000 people weekly, reported cut fuel lines and the theft of gas from several of its vans.