Dogs on Paw-trol

And more critters in the news

An extra set of eyes (and paws)

For about the last five years, the Town of Davidson Police Department has participated at a local level in the national Dog Walker Watch program, and just recently held another training event for interested applicants.

The program – part of the National Night Out organization – encourages neighbors “to assist local law enforcement as extra eyes and ears while out walking their dog. The program enhances the partnership between police and community while providing resources for neighbors to be more aware and how to effectively observe and report suspicious activity.”

On any given day at any given hour (and in any kind of weather), law enforcement officials say there are likely dozens of our neighbors walking their dogs. In Davidson, many of these folks are now trained by the police department to look less at their phones while out with their dog and more at their surroundings, watching for any suspicious behavior or activity that can be reported in order to keep their neighborhoods safe.

Anyone can register with Dog Walker Watch – you don’t need to live in Davidson. Learn more at www.natw.org/dog-walker-watch/.

Not to be outdone by Davidson ...

... Mooresville has a “dog in the fight” so to speak when it comes to notoriety for municipal police departments. The Mooresville Police Department was recently recognized for Best Facebook Presence in the nationwide Government Social Media 2023 Golden Post Awards. The award honors outstanding use of social media by government agencies, and in MPD’s case, it recognizes the department’s efforts to effectively engage with the community through a series of public service announcements.

It started back in 2022 when the department noticed an increase in the number of calls about animals left unattended in vehicles. That spawned a series of Facebook public service announcements featuring MPD’s first and only therapy dog, Ella, to help educate the community on this important issue. The “Ella Says” campaign spawned a series of “meet and greet” events with Ella and her handler, Tiffany Rivera, campaign posts and flyers available on the MPD Facebook page, even a coloring contest last year.

Ella currently works with Rivera in MPD Dispatch, “providing a calming presence for telecommunicators, officers and staff.”

Keeping the critter theme rolling

Animals are near and dear to the hearts of many of our readers, so here’s an opportunity to support a local nonprofit interested in promoting animal welfare.

Rescue Ranch in Statesville is holding its annual “Boots, Buckles & Bourbon” fundraising dinner later this month, and tickets are now on sale if you want to get in on the fun.

The Preserve at Southern Distilling Company in Statesville will be the place to be Saturday, Aug. 26, from 7 to 10 p.m., for an evening to include dinner presented by Outback Steakhouse as well as drinks, live music, a silent auction, raffles, animal “meet and greet” events and more. Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite cowboy boots and hats while pitching in to help Rescue Ranch meet its mission of responsible pet ownership.

Rescue Ranch is a nonprofit animal welfare organization founded by Krissie Newman and NASCAR driver Ryan Newman. The 87-acre facility offers school, Scout and camp programs, birthday parties and private tours, which promote humane education through hands-on learning. For tickets to the dinner or to learn more, visit www.rescueranch.com, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.