Officials hunting area dog napper
By John Joyce
Published in News on December 18, 2013 1:46 PM
Three dogs plucked from their owners' yards on Apple Tree Creek Road Monday remain missing.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is investigating a potential dog snatcher.
Lucia Garcia, 24, reported a gray and white male Great Pyrenees and a white and brown male mixed breed dog taken from her residence at 208 Apple Tree Creek Road before 3 p.m. Monday, according to a sheriff's report.
A bulldog was taken from a second residence nearby.
One witness confronted the culprit, who said he was taking her dog because it had bitten someone, the report said.
Tina Heath, of 158 Apple Tree Creek Road, called her husband, Gene, just after 8:30 a.m. and told him a black man in what appeared to be a uniform, drove onto their property and took their 7-year-old American bulldog, according to the report.
Gene Heath then contacted Wayne County Animal Control and was told they did have a dog picked up around that time.
Wayne County Animal Control officer and lead kennel attendant Wayne Benton said Tuesday, however, his agency has made no recent pickups on or near Apple Tree Creek Road.
"All of our officers wear uniforms, black pants and gray shirts. All of our shirts have a gold badge and the officer's name embroidered on them," he said.
A report of a dog bite will warrant a visit from animal control, but the dog will not automatically be seized.
"We ask for proof of rabies (vaccinations). If the shots are up to date the dog does not have to be quarantined. If not, the animal will either have to be quarantined for 10 days, either with us or at a vet's office," Benton said.
A bite report will be filed and documentation will be given to the owner, Benton said
Both the Wayne County and the city of Goldsboro Animal Control drive pickup trucks with dog boxes on them.
"All of our vehicles will have a city or county seal on the side," he said.