More than 40 dogs have vanished from a North Texas county over the past two months, leaving behind no clues in a mystery that's devastated their owners.
"I'm horrified," said Robin Lewis, whose family lost their black Lab, Jack, from their Decatur home in December.
"It's been really difficult trying to explain Jack's gone, and are we ever going to see him again?" said Lewis. "They're heartbroken. I'm heartbroken. My husband's heartbroken."
Jack is just one of dozens of dogs who have vanished in Wise County.
On the very same day Jack disappeared, Decatur Mayor Martin Woodruff lost his daughter's pit bull and Great Dane, who disappeared from Woodruff's fenced-in back yard.
"Police dispatch said after several hours that this is very unusual," said Woodruff.
Lewis agrees.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
"I think it's very suspicious that three very large, friendly dogs disappear in the same neighborhood at the exact same time," she said.
Since November, 40 dogs have been reported missing, according to the Wise County sheriff. There's no physical evidence that proves the dogs were taken. Still, neighbors have a growing suspicion that all the missing dogs are not just a coincidence.
"It's really disheartening to think that there are people out here that would do this," said Woodruff.
"It begs the question of where are these dogs going? And who's taking them? And what are they doing with them?" said Lewis.
The Wise County sheriff said investigators don't have any descriptions of possible suspects or their cars. But he said people should be on the lookout for anything that looks unusual that might help bring forward answers.
