Las Vegas Thrift Store Supporting Dog Rescues Hit By Theft

Items stolen from Las Vegas businesses that support animal welfare were intended to benefit a local dog rescue, raising concerns about the impact on training and care programs for shelter dogs.

Recent thefts affecting Dog Junkies Thrift Store and Prism Salon & Spa have disrupted planned support for a nonprofit organization that provides enrichment and training for rescue dogs.

According to information shared by those involved, items taken from the businesses were designated to help fund programs for rescue dogs through Pawtastic Friends.

Both businesses are known within the Las Vegas animal welfare community for using proceeds to support rescue efforts, training initiatives, and nonprofit partnerships.

Organization Intended To Benefit From Donations

The stolen items were earmarked for Pawtastic Friends, a private nonprofit focused on preparing rescue dogs for adoption through structured enrichment and professional training.

The organization works primarily with shelter dogs that require behavioral support, confidence-building, and guidance to improve their chances of placement into permanent homes.

Mission And Programs Of Pawtastic Friends

Pawtastic Friends was founded with the goal of improving outcomes for homeless dogs through enrichment-based training programs.

Those programs include basic obedience work, aquatics therapy, and advanced behavioral training designed to address challenges that can otherwise limit adoption opportunities.

In addition to training, the organization provides dogs in its care with food, toys, medical support, and essential supplies while they await adoption or foster placement.

Details Of The Break-Ins

According to reporting from KLAS, security footage captured intruders breaking into Prism Salon & Spa just after 3 a.m. last Monday near Flamingo and Fort Apache roads.

Video shows two individuals wearing hoodies and masks crawling through a broken window and ransacking the business.

Items stolen included Pawtastic Friends merchandise such as t-shirts, safety green beanies, and rings, with proceeds intended to support the nonprofit’s rescue work.

“We were looking forward to 2026 and all the great things,” said Melissa Novelli, owner of Prism Salon & Spa and co-founder of Pawtastic Friends.

“Then, to get woken up at 3:30 in the morning, the alarm was going off, and in fact coming and finding glass all over, it’s a violation.”

Novelli said damage to doors and glass alone totaled approximately $3,000. No one was inside the business at the time, and the salon reopened shortly after the incident.

How Theft Impacts Nonprofit Operations

The loss of donated and resale items has direct implications for Pawtastic Friends’ programs.

Merchandise sales help fund training scholarships, enrichment supplies, and daily care for rescue dogs.

“When we pulled up, and I saw that beanie laying there, I was like — now you’re not just stealing from a small business, you’re stealing from the dogs,” Novelli said.

When these resources are taken, organizations must either scale back services or redirect funds from other areas, creating strain on already limited nonprofit budgets.

Recent Community Events And Outreach

Despite the setbacks, Pawtastic Friends has continued expanding its outreach.

In early January 2026, the organization hosted its first collaborative foster and adoption event at Mershops Galleria at Sunset, partnering with nine local rescues and shelters.

The event focused on connecting adoptable dogs with families while raising awareness about fostering and training-based rescue programs across Southern Nevada.

What Supporters Can Do

Community members interested in supporting Pawtastic Friends can do so through direct donations, volunteering with training or foster programs, and attending adoption events.

Supporters can also help by shopping at partner businesses such as Dog Junkies Thrift Store during operating hours and sharing information about foster and adoption opportunities within their networks.

Ongoing Investigation And Current Status

The suspects involved in the Prism Salon & Spa break-in remain at large. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Despite the thefts, Pawtastic Friends continues to operate its training and enrichment programs and remains focused on its mission of improving outcomes for rescue dogs throughout the Las Vegas area.

Updates about future events, volunteer opportunities, and dogs available for adoption are shared through the organization’s official website and social media channels.