Men Posing as Animal Control Officers Attempt to Steal Dogs

As of Saturday, October 22, 2011

Authorities are warning local residents about three men reportedly attempting to steal dogs by impersonating animal control agents.

Moore County Animal Control received a call Thursday from a resident in the High Falls area of the county alerting it to the impostors.

“We believe they are trying to steal dogs, but we are unsure of the reason why,” said Animal Control Officer Frank Ringelberg.

Ringelberg said the three white men were dressed in white shirts and blue pants and carrying catch poles. A homeowner returning from an errand confronted the suspects in her driveway as they attempted to take her Great Dane, Ringelberg said.

“They are really trying to impersonate an animal control officer,” Ringelberg said. “Each one of the men was driving a white truck with dog cages in the back.”

Ringelberg said the homeowner did not allow the men to take her dog, and she called Animal Control. When they left, they reportedly told her that they would be back in two weeks to check on her dog’s rabies vaccination.

Aside from their clothing, authorities have little in the way of description of the men, Ringelberg said. One suspect has gray hair and is estimated to be in his 40s or 50s. The other two men are younger, believed to be in their 30s.

Moore County Animal Control officers always carry identification badges, and they wear uniforms and drive marked vehicles.

“We are always identifiable,” Ringelberg said.

Anyone with information on the impersonators or who sees something suspicious is asked to call the Moore County Sheriff’s Office at (910) 947-2831.

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starman 1 year, 7 months ago

The number to the Sheriff's Office is 947-2931, not 947-2831.

SH59 1 year, 7 months ago

This isn't the first time I've heard about people trying to steal dogs. I wonder why this is going on?

keke 1 year, 7 months ago

They probably use them for bait dogs in dog-fighting. So sad.

maillady54 1 year, 7 months ago

Several years ago, there was a problem with missing dogs,same scenario, I was told that dogs could be sold to drug companies for testing,drugs, makeup,etc. Really a scary thing!

Toda 1 year, 7 months ago

Should they try to steal one of my babies, they might leave heavy laden with balls of fire that expand on impact. Yep, I love my puppies more than some people...I haven't met these thieves, but I know I don't like them...good hunting animal lovers and owners. You'll have friends on a jury!

geoffcutler 1 year, 7 months ago

Whether for biological or dog fighting purposes, or whatever purpose, what the hell kind of people are these? When they're caught, they need to be put away for a long time. Forever wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

Matt_Woodruff 1 year, 7 months ago

LOL, so Toda suggests killing them! That is nice.

geoffcutler 1 year, 7 months ago

Hey Matt...If this doesn't raise some eviseral anger in you, like it did Toda, or me, that's okay, but there's nothing LOL about this.

mymindwanders 1 year, 7 months ago

Pets are Family.I would love for them to come down & mess with my dogs. Good Luck!

Courseaire 1 year, 7 months ago

When they catch them, put them in a tennis court and let Frank take care of them.

livelaughlove 1 year, 7 months ago

Hope they don't come to the Spies area. My dogs are family!!!!

teufelhunden 1 year, 7 months ago

Our dog is part of our family. The thought of someone stealing her is horrible. I'd be like a rabid mama wolverine if they tried that on my property!!!

Toda 1 year, 7 months ago

"Matt_Woodruff 17 hours, 33 minutes ago"

Perhaps they may learn a lesson when they come to my house to take my property. Last time my house was broken into by 3 girls and their boyfriend, not one served any sentence and I was never receive retribution for my losses.

I love my puppies like as much as my children, try to take either one from me and only God can could save you. Let them pull up in my yard ...

alladat1 1 year, 7 months ago

Hey Toda - I love my dog too - but my God says I shouldn't kill anyone.

Wakanska 1 year, 7 months ago

Just do a search for "PeTA workers killing dumping animals" and maybe we're going through this all over again. It just happens that this occurred within striking range of the Norfolk, VA PeTA HQ. Now, they got off the hook with only a technical violation of illegally dumping animal carcases, and I think that charge may have been given a slap on the wrist or even dismissed, but if they did nothing wrong, then they shouldn't mind having it brought up again. There was a lot of outrage over this incident. Go to http://www.petakillsanimals.com and look at PeTA's euthanasia / kill statistics. Pretty abysmal, I'd say. Here's just one of the news stories from 2005. Not saying that's what is happening, now, but it sure is similar in a lot of ways (people picking up animals in a van). Here are a couple of links to the original story: http://www.nokillnow.com/petatimeline.htm http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,159861,00.html

walter68 1 year, 7 months ago

What !!! that is horrible!!

sandhillsdogs 1 year, 7 months ago

There are more reports of stolen dogs from the Star area and Montgomery - Randolph county areas!

By the outfit and sort of dogs been taken, the dogs are used for research labs or fast turnover sell on road side or parking lots of shopping centers!

This article was printed to warn Moore County Dog Owners!

Call Moore County Animal Control under 910-947-2858 or Moore County Sheriffs Office at 910-947-2931

jeepbaby73 1 year, 7 months ago

I agree 100% with Toda. If you come on my property to steal something that is MINE, be it a TV or a dog, you deserve whatever you get. When you make a choice to take that which does not belong to you, there are consequences. If more people shared this mentality, there would be less crime, and fewer criminals b/c they would be eliminated :-) Works for me!

skylinefirepest 1 year, 7 months ago

This is one instance where I totally agree with Toda...my pets are my family and Lord help you if you mess with my family. I also would use force against them and I load mine with tracer because I damn well want them to know they're in the wrong yard!!

Arestorer 1 year, 7 months ago

I agree that pets do somewhat become a part of the family, But, to take another humans life because of a pet is to extreme for me....I guess if you have nothing else to live for, you can take the chance of spending the rest of your life in Prison, for a dog!!
Ive been put in the position to choose my family over a moment of passion.....Hard choice, I hope others dont have to make, but my family needed me to be there to protect and provide for their future....I made the choice to be the provider I promised to be...

Toda 1 year, 7 months ago

Response to "alladat1 16 hours, 10 minutes ago"

My God is the same as yours, I'm assuming. He hates sin. That's why Moses killed the taskmaster who was whipping Hebrew slaves. Some people walking the fact of this earth deserve to die a horrible and painful death. And I have no issue with giving God a helping hand. He can deal with their souls, I can deal with the body. Like I said, "I will bust a cap in someones a$$ if they attempt to steal from me - period! The courts don't do anything to deter since the prisons are overcrowded. The girls who broke into my house and a neighbor didn't pay one cent in restitution or one day in prison. Go figure?

alladat1 1 year, 7 months ago

Hey Toda, Thou shalt not kill. Judge not. Maybe you only believe in certain parts of the Bible and not others.

Bflat 1 year, 7 months ago

^It's this type attitude that allows the criminals to go free. Consider what will happen when these criminals come into a yard and have guns. Your attitude will change when it is your life, family and property being threatened. It is a weak person that doesn't defend all of that, PERIOD.

Toda 1 year, 7 months ago

"alladat1 17 minutes ago"

thou shall not pull your ass out of a ditch on the Sabbath, Thou shall not do any work on the Sabbath, thou shall not commit murder, thou shall not steal, thou shall not eat anything with a forked hoof. One can take any position on Biblical references. If you read the Old Testament, no one is going to heaven because Christ didn't die for their sins - yet. I really don't like to argue scripture since it was written by a group of men over a 1000 years after the death of Christ. And, during that period, men were domineering male chauvinist who view woman as inferior. I could go on and on for hours about this topic, but keep one thing in mind, God despises sin in any form. Protecting my home and belongings against sinful people is my option to make to protect that which is mine.

Arestorer 1 year, 7 months ago

Unless I'm wrong, which is very likely, I dont believe North Carolinians have the right to use lethal force to protect their "Property"...Only the life of themselves or another "human"...

Bflat; Didnt read anything about these individuals having weapons...That would be a different story..But, we still dont have the right to take someone else's life to protect property....And the truth is,,,That it takes a stronger person to restrain from violence...

Courseaire 1 year, 7 months ago

Shoot first, make sure it's frontal & a kill shot and then put a knife in their hand - protecting property and self defense.

pinewoodnc 1 year, 7 months ago

I did animal rescue in TX for many years and unfortunately dogs that are stolen are many times used for bait dogs in dog fighting. It makes my blood boil. My dogs are family and I would go after someone with everything I had if they tried to either steal or harm my dogs. I make no apologies to anyone for my devotion to my dogs. All my dogs have been rescues and have already gone through a bad time and I would never let anything harmful happen to them again.

Arestorer 1 year, 7 months ago

Ya'll dont get me wrong,,,I will gladly give my life to protect my friends and family,but Im not looking to take someone else's..Thats not something thats easy to come back from...

Toda 1 year, 7 months ago

"Arestorer 4 hours, 15 minutes ago"

well Arestorer, when someone comes to my house uninvited, with bad intentions, then like someone else mentioned, a throw away knife or gun is a great defense. Don't know that it will ever happen to my puppies or my family, rest assured, I shoot expert and have for years.

geoffcutler 1 year, 7 months ago

Arstorer, I'm a little confused by your comment. If an intruder enters your house and would do harm, are you saying you'd lay down your life to protect your family? What happens to your family after you've laid down your life? I think you might want to clarify.

Bflat 1 year, 7 months ago

Whether or not the animal control impersonators had guns is not mentioned. However, if someone goes to a house to steal dogs, property or anything, are you going to wait to find out?. There are laws against trespassing and if someone has bad intentions and is stealing, breaking into property for any reason, then its possible they may have a gun or other weapons....and they may kill you.. Are you going to sit back and not use force to protect yourself and your property? It doesn't necessarily mean I would kill someone but it would be self defense..

skylinefirepest 1 year, 7 months ago

Alldat and Arrestor--Would I kill someone to save my dog?? Possibly-it depends on the situation as I see it at the time. If you are in my home to commit crime then, yes, the answer is you'll be picking either buckshot or .308 tracer out of your butt. But the answer to the other question is that I can put their truck out of commission very quickly ( who knows, the tracer might make it burn if I get the gas tank ) and all they have to do is threaten you with bodily harm and deadly force is authorized for a homeowner in N.C., as I understand it.

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Men Posing as Animal Control Officers Attempt to Steal Dogs

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