A break-in at the city pound Tuesday night resulted in the theft of one dog and damage to the compound.
Animal Control Officer Charles Hartsell said a white and black male pit bull was missing Wednesday morning following the break-in.
“It’s pretty simple: they cut their way in, got the dog and got out,” Hartsell said.
Hartsell said the outside gate around the city pound compound, which is located at the City Shop at 711 S. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. had been cut overnight. Two dog kennels were also broken into, with the chain link wires that form the kennels having been cut along with the outer compound gate.
“They stole one pit (bull) and tried to steal another, but he wasn’t so friendly,” Hartsell said.
He said a second pit bull was running loose when he arrived Wednesday morning. He said the second dog was generally friendly, but did not like to be picked up, which is probably why he was not taken. However, he said there was no blood left at the scene, so he is not sure whether the second dog fought back or not.
Hartsell said he was still examining security camera footage at press time Wednesday night. He said that in his seven years as the animal control officer, there have been five or six break-ins.
In November 2017, a break-in at the pound left several puppies dead after thieves broke in and stole five dogs, one of whom was in labor at the time of the theft.
Hartsell warned that dog thefts typically pick up around Halloween. He said some people will fight dogs in an event called “Halloween Happening,” adding that on Wednesday morning he responded to a call where a dog was stolen from its owners yard.
“If you’ve got pit bulls, you need to make sure they’re inside,” Hartsell said.
Caitlan Butler can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].