By: Summer Kelley, Staff Reporter

Several people have been complaining – loudly – that purebred dogs are being stolen in the Dade County area.

Melenda Bryson is a member of the Chattanooga Kennel Club and National Miniature Dachshund club, a breeder/owner/handler in the show world and a Dade County resident. Bryson has been extremely concerned about the disappearance of several dogs in the area. 

 “I have recently learned of the ongoing theft of purebred dogs in the area,” Bryson said. “In the past four months there have been at least three thefts that I know of. One most recently where a sire, dam, and litter of four miniature pincher pups were taken from a home. Another incident was four German shepherds that were obedience dogs were taken.”

Deputies at the Dade County Sheriff’s Department have, in fact, taken two reports regarding stolen purebred dogs. The first report was taken in April when two female German Shepherds being trained as search and rescue dogs and used for breeding were taken from their pens at a home in Rising Fawn, leaving a male Shepherd behind. The animals’ owner had moved to Florida and had made arrangements for friends to care for the dogs at her home until she could prepare a place for them at her new residence. 

Another report was taken on June 12, after Sherrin Wattenbarger stated she heard her dog barking and looked out the window to see a blond female in a red, GMC Jimmy SUV pick up one of her neighbor’s six Miniature Pinschers - including one female, one male and four puppies - out of his pen and put the animal in her car. Wattenbarger said she then went outside and started yelling at the lady while walking down the driveway toward her. According to Wattenbarger, the woman got into the vehicle and began driving toward Wattenbarger who by this time was standing at the end of her neighbor’s driveway.

 “She just kept driving toward me,” Wattenbarger said. “I had to step back three times to get out of her way.”

The vehicle made it out of the driveway and Wattenbarger called for a deputy who she said would not take the report because Wattenbarger was not the owner of the dogs. The next day, Sherrin and Steve Wattenbarger and their neighbor, John Kincer, went to the Sheriff’s department to file a theft report. Both of the Wattenbargers said they had seen the vehicle and driver and provided the Sheriff’s department with a tag number that when ran came back to another Dade County resident. Both of the Wattenbargers and Kincer told deputies they wanted to press charges against the driver of the vehicle, but since the report has been made, Wattenbarger said nothing has been done as far as they can tell. 

 “I have gone to the Sheriff’s Department three or four times and they said it was still being investigated,” Wattenbarger said. “I have also contacted Jeff Mullis and other representatives.”

Wattenbarger is also upset because the deputy who originally responded to her call about the theft asked her if she knew that there were no laws regarding animals in the county. Wattenbarger said while that may be true, she knows there are laws about stealing and trespassing and something should be done about the people who took the dogs. 

Bryson said there are several things you can do to protect your pet from theft:

1.  Tattooing and micro chipping is a good idea, not only to help recover lost pets, but also because laboratories don’t want animals with tattoos and microchips (tattoos should be done on the leg, as ears can be torn in a fight or cut off).

2.  Have recent photos of your pets on hand in case they go missing.

3.  Never talk to strangers about your pet’s value, bloodline, or special abilities.

4. Report suspicious activity toward  animals in your neighborhood.

5.  Don’t leave animals unattended in your car.

6.  Never leave animals alone in your yard, particularly if they are visible from the street, and padlock your gate.

7.  If someone you don’t know asks about breeding or buying your pet, tell him that the animal has been fixed, even if this isn’t true, and record the person’s name, license plate number, and address.

8.  Keep your cats indoors.

9.  Don’t tie your pet up anywhere outside to wait for you unless you can see him while you shop or eat and get to him quickly if necessary.

10.  Keep pets on a leash when outdoors

11.  When expecting guests or repair people, keep a close eye on the door – pets may run out and get lost when the door is left open.

12. Surveillance equipment install is not expensive.  This would be a great help in convicting the criminal.

 “It is a sad state when animals are stolen right from their home,” Bryson said.

A $500 reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the theft of these or any other purebred animals being removed with permission is being offered. If you know of any information or would like to make a pledge to the reward, please contact Bryson at (706) 398-1222.

Repeated attempts have been made by the Sentinel to contact Sheriff Patrick Cannon regarding the stolen dogs but at press time the Sheriff had failed to return any of the calls.