Someone posing as an employee of the Brown County Animal Shelter has been traveling around the county, picking up unrestrained dogs and selling them for personal profit, according to Animal Shelter employees.
“We have some people running around that are impersonating us (dog warden employees),” said Ragina Miller, deputy clerk and office manager at the Brown County Animal Shelter.
Staff members at the Animal Shelter became aware of the situation after receiving calls from residents who were in search of their lost dogs.
“People were calling in here (to the Animal Shelter) and asking to come and get their dogs, but we didn’t pick up their dog,” said Miller.
The impostor appears to be gathering up truck loads of dogs and selling them to pet stores for their own personal profit, according to Miller.
Miller explained one particular incident where a person called the Animal Shelter in search of their dog that had been missing, in hopes of finding the dog at the shelter. A description of the dog was given, however no dogs at the shelter matched the description given. After having no luck in finding their lost pet, the person chose to replace the pet by purchasing a new dog from a pet store.
In search of a new dog, the person made their way to Jack’s Aquarium, a pet store in the greater Cincinnati area. While viewing the dogs for sale at Jack’s Aquarium, the person was dumbfounded to find the dog they had lost up for sale at the pet store. The person then reported that there was a problem.
Employees at the Animal Shelter are unaware how much money the impostor has profited while posing as an Animal Shelter employee.
“My concern here is that the people out there (in the general public) have faith and trust that we are actually who we are,” said Miller.
Miller said the situation is currently being investigated by the Brown County Prosecutor’s office and the names of possible suspects have not yet been released due to the ongoing investigation.
The impostor dresses in full animal shelter attire, wearing a uniform exactly like the uniforms worn by deputy dog wardens.
Brown County Dog Warden Reggie McKenzie urges residents to pay close attention to the identification tags worn by employees at the Animal Shelter.
The names and titles of those currently employed at the Animal Shelter are: Reggie McKenzie, Chief Dog Warden; Bill Frazier, Deputy Dog Warden; Ragina Miller, Deputy Clerk and Office Manager; Johnny Craig, Deputy Dog Warden and Steve Bennett, Kennel Technician.
“We just want people to know that this is the staff that works for the county,” Miller said.
During a typical work day, McKenzie, Frazier and Craig are often traveling throughout the county responding to calls while Bennett and Miller remain at the Animal Shelter to carry out daily operations.
If you are approached by or believe you have witnessed any other person’s filling in as one of the people mentioned above, contact the Brown County Commissioners (937) 378-3956, your local police department or the Brown County Sheriff’s Department immediately and provide as much detail as possible.
New hours of operation have become effective at the Brown County Animal Shelter.
The Animal Shelter is now open Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., except on holidays, for pet adoptions and tag sales only.
The shelter is also open Monday through Friday, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on holidays.
The shelter also provides microchip implanting for $20 per pet, which enables pet owners to track lost pets.
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