CANAAN — Two Canaan residents were arrested Friday in connection with the theft of a dog from a Goose Pond Road property early last month.

Dan Collins, 52, a former Canaan Selectboard member, was arrested on suspicion of felony theft and two misdemeanors — criminal mischief and criminal trespassing.

Tracy Packard, 38, was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property, a felony, and misdemeanor criminal trespass.

“Both parties cooperated fully and turned themselves in voluntarily at the Canaan Police Department when they were made aware of the warrants,” Canaan Police Chief Ryan Porter said by email Sunday.

Collins owns a painting and contracting business in Canaan. He served one three-year term on the Canaan Selectboard, losing his seat in March to Scott Johnston. He did not return a phone message for comment by deadline.

Packard’s Facebook account indicates that she is a “digital creator” who lives in Canaan. She did not return a request for comment submitted by Facebook Messenger by deadline.

In late November, Canaan police received a complaint about two dogs that were living outside on a property on Goose Pond Road. The complaint alleged that their water bowls were frozen, Porter said.

Canaan Police Det. Amanda Lewis visited the property on Nov. 23 to investigate the complaint and found that the dogs had an insulated shelter and that their drinking water bowls were not frozen, Porter said in an interview last month.

The dogs belong to Sam Buckman, 25, who lives and works in Lebanon, but travels to and from his 2-acre Canaan property multiple times a day to care for the two dogs, a Siberian Shepherd and a German Drahthaar, a breed similar to a German Wirehaired Pointer.

The dogs protect Buckman’s livestock, including two Jersey bulls and a collection of chickens, ducks and pigeons.

The arrest report states that on Dec. 2, Collins uploaded a post to the Canaan community Facebook group expressing concern about the dogs being out in the cold and “asking the community how to help the ‘poor pups.’ ”

The post prompted comments that divulged Buckman’s name and personal information, with at least one comment threatening “to steal the dogs from the property,” according to the report.

The post was deleted after being reported to the group moderators for “hate speech and bullying,” according to a separate incident report provided by Canaan police.

An investigation based on witness accounts, video footage and statement from Packard determined that at about 8 p.m. on Dec. 2, Packard entered Buckman’s property on Goose Pond Road and “fed the dogs treats and Milk Bones.” Collins arrived while Packard was feeding the dogs. He then left and returned a few minutes later with bolt cutters, according to the arrest report.

Packard told police that she “watched Daniel Collins use bolt cutters to cut the chain to the dog kennel and remove the dog from the kennel.” Collins then helped the dog into Packard’s car. He attempted, but was unable to cut the lock protecting the Siberian Shepherd’s kennel.

Packard then drove the dog to the Canaan Police station, where she claimed it was a stray she’d found wandering on Goose Pond Road.

The dog had a scratch on its neck and its blood was found in the snow beside the kennel.

Packard “lied about how she obtained the dog, after she was told by Daniel to not ‘throw him under the bus,’ ” an incident report states.

Police reports indicate that Collins harassed Buckman by calling him on the phone to inquire about the dogs, trespassing on his property to take photos of the kennel and calling various animal welfare organizations to complain about the dogs’ living conditions.

On Dec. 4, Collins was served with a stalking protection order and his firearms were seized.

Buckman is grateful for the help of the Canaan police, but worries that the Drahthaar — named Mud — has been so shaken by the incident that he may not fully recover.

“I am very appreciative to the officers that followed through on enforcing our laws,” Buckman said by phone Monday.

Mud, though, who was 10 months old at the time of his abduction, has become fearful of humans.

“The whole situation was so uncontrolled. I don’t know that it’s something that he’ll get over,” Buckman said. “It doesn’t affect my relationship with him,” he added, “but it’s hard for him to be in public and around people.”

Both parties were released on their own recognizance after the arrests, Porter said. They both have court dates in March in Lebanon District Court.

Christina Dolan can be reached at cdolan@vnews.com or 603-727-3208.