Several dog owners are missing their beloved pets after they have come up missing in recent days.
One pet owner in particular is Newton’s Steve Dixon. He said his two dogs went missing last week. He advertised their disappearance around the community, but he has yet to hear anything about them.
He also said it something that’s happening often in the area.
“I’ve heard that at least 20 dogs have come up missing in the last couple of weeks,” Dixon said. “It’s not just here in Newton, but it’s been in Hickory and other areas around the county. It’s even happening over in Scott County. Something needs to be done about it.”
Newton County Sheriff Jackie Knight said the sheriff’s department hasn’t received any reports of missing pets in the last few weeks except for one.
“We haven’t heard any reports of pets coming up missing,” Knight said. “My neighbor’s dogs came up missing the other day. We think it may have been coyotes that got them, but as far as anything else, we haven’t heard any reports about it.”
The Newton Police Department also hasn’t heard of any reports of pets going missing in the area. However, they are asking residents to file a report as soon as possible.
“The Newton Police Department has not been made aware of any animal theft within the city limits of Newton,” said Newton Chief of Police Harvey Curry. “We encourage all residents, should they recognize their pet is missing, please notify the Newton Police Department at 601-683-2041. For many of us are four legged friends are liken to our children, losing them is like losing a family member. We take these threats, complaints, and reports seriously and commit our staff to do our very best in apprehending these suspects.”
Dixon said he feared that his dogs and other dogs might be used as bait dogs for pitbulls.
Knight said he didn’t know of any reports of dog-baiting, but he warned that it could be a possibility.
“It’s certainly could be a possibility that dogs like that could be used as bait dogs, but we aren’t aware if that’s happening or not,” Knight said. “If your pet comes up missing, please let us know as soon as possible. That’s the only way we can help you.”
