Golden Valley Police Work to Keep All Animals Safe
Golden Valley Police Community Service Officer Loreen Mills couldn’t help but gush just a little bit when asked about the department’s latest dog-at-large round-up.
A pit bull found without its owner in Isaacson Park is let out of its enclosure at Golden Valley’s impound facility.
“The dog we have in impound right now is a pit bull, a very handsome boy, and he’s real spunky,” said Mills. “I imagine he got away from his owner. We found him in Isaacson Park. Somebody in the park called it in and one of our officers went out and got him.”
As she does with so many found pets, she posted the dog’s picture on the city’s social media channels, hoping someone would see it who knows to whom the dog belongs.
“We have the Golden Valley Impound, so at least they’re safe, so at least they’re off the street. Won’t get hit by a car,” she said. “We try to make the reunification happen, and if the owner is not found, then we arrange for a surrender appointment with the humane society.”
Along the way, officers also see if the pet is microchipped, which can often lead to a more immediate reunification, as it did last summer when officers responded to calls that a dog was running amok along busy Highway 55.
“It was running back and forth from the north side to the south side (of the highway),” Mills said. “I brought it to the emergency vet, and they were able to scan the dog, and we found the microchip, and the dog belonged right here in Golden Valley.”
This dog was successfully reunited with its owner after Golden Valley police received many calls about it running loose along Highway 55.
She said often animals that are found within city limits may be missing from neighboring cities, so they work with law enforcement in those municipalities to see if they have reports that an animal is missing. Mills believes animal control starts with the owners.
“It starts off with really taking care of your animals: make sure they’re vaccinated and minding the leash laws. Golden Valley has a leash law. You have to maintain control of your animal at all times, except for dog parks, of course,” Mills said. “We don’t want them to get away from their owners.”
Still, the work continues to reunite as many pets as possible with their owners.
