Increase in Pet Thefts Should Raise Awareness

Last week, the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department sought the public's help in finding a vehicle thought to be involved in a string of recent dog thefts around our county. The description of the vehicle in question is a White Chevy S10, single-cab style with Alabama tags. It has also been reported that the truck has black decals that go from the doors all the way to the fender. If you happen to see this vehicle or have information regarding it, be sure to call 762-0450 to alert the proper authorities.

Unfortunately, dognapping is a growing problem in our county and around the country For most of us, our pets are like members of our family. That is why it is important to remain vigilant with your pets and practice these simple tips to help guard against having your pet stolen:

1) Always keep a close eye on your dog when it is not on the leash, even if they are just in the yard.

2) Don't leave your dog unattended in your car at the store or any other public place.

3) Don't tie your dog outside of a store or any other public place.

4) Take advantage of microchipping and GPS technology to help identify and find your dog.

5) Be cognizant of the fact that many thiefs use pet photos on social media as a way of finding potential victims

While these tips may seem to be common sense, all too often we don't practice them and that's when our pets come up missing. That's why it is always best to err on the side of safety and caution in dealing with our pets.

On a related note, this week the county commission will have our first meeting about instituting some common sense animal control laws in the county. Currently, there are no animal control laws on the books for unincorporated areas in our county, so addressing any animal issues is often hard to deal with.

I am hopeful these discussions will be productive and will lead us to humane solutions that will help us address how animals should be treated and controlled in our county. It's not only a law enforcement issue, but also a moral one that we as a county need to finally tackle.