HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. (WGXA) — Domesticated animals — even when found by someone hoping to save the animal in a dangerous situation — must be reported to animal services, or local law enforcement, In fact, its law. While many people often post ‘Found’ pets on social media sites, or make ‘Missing Dog’ posters, some people who find an animal may not think to notify animal services. Typically, it’s the owner’s looking for their lost pet to call animal control first. However, if animal control doesn’t know an animal has been found, it’s more difficult for the animal to be reunited with their family. Now, one family who believes someone picked up their chihuahua on Moody Road in Bonaire is asking the person to come forward. The Houston County family is asking for help finding their missing dog after neighbors said they saw someone pick her up from a roadway in Bonaire.
Lost-dog owner, Mary Jimenez stands beside a missing flyer posted in Bonaire for ‘Sammy,’ after neighbors say they saw a woman in a dark colored vehicle pick the 15-year-old chihuahua from oncoming traffic along Moody Road on April 6, 2026.{ }(Gloria Ruth Finney, WGXA)
Mary Jimenez and her husband said their 15-year-old tan-and-white Chihuahua, Sammy, was last seen on April 4., after apparently leaving their backyard unnoticed. Neighbors told the family they spotted someone picking Sammy up on Moody Road in Bonaire, in front of the Jimenez home.
Mary Jimenez says neighbors’ door camera footage captured this image they believe to be the dark colored sedan the person was driving that may have stopped to rescue the missing chihuahua from Moody Road in Bonaire on April 6, 2026 (Courtesy of Mary Jimenez)
“I’m happy that these people took the time to pick up Sammy and get her out of the road to keep her safe, but they need to understand, too, that she belongs to somebody,” Jimenez said.
Mary Jimenez said Sammy is an older dog who prefers to sleep under blankets or bask in the sun. She said April 6 also carried personal significance for her family.
{ }’Sammy,’ a 15-year-old chihuahua; Neighbors say they saw a woman in a dark colored vehicle remove the dog from oncoming traffic along Moody Road on April 6, 2026. The Jimenez Family is hoping the person will return their beloved dog.{ }(Courtesy of Mary Jimenez)
“I know this is like weird stuff, but my mother, the 10th anniversary of her passing away was the 6th of April,” Mary said; the same date they last saw Sammy.
The family said they believe the person who picked Sammy up was trying to help.
“We believe some people stopped by and were trying to help her, and they picked her up and took her home. We’ve had witnesses who said they saw the people picking up Sammy,” Mary said.
The Jimenez family has posted flyers with Sammy’s photo and their phone number but said they have not heard from the person who may have picked her up that Saturday evening.
“We’ve put signs up all along the road, plus this big sign, hopefully somebody will see her and call us. Our other dog is starting to have withdrawal symptoms of separation anxiety from not being with Sammy. We just want Sammy back home. She’s aging, and she’s starting to have health issues, and we just want her back home where we can get her to the vet and make sure she’s taken care of,” Mary said.
Mary said she hopes sharing their experience helps others understand what to do if they find a pet.
“You know, she was our baby, and there’s a process on how to get this animal back. They could have just stopped at the house once they picked her up and asked who the dog belonged to, if it was ours, and then Sammy would be home. I really hope that if nothing else educates people to understand that dogs are people’s family, and you need to let them know it’s not just a stray dog,” she said.
Warner Robins Animal Control Officer Savannah Register said Georgia law requires people who find lost property to make a reasonable effort to locate the owner, and that includes dogs and cats.
Warner Robins Animal Control Officer Savannah Register pets an adoptable cat while speaking with WGXA News on Friday about the{ }Georgia law that requires found domesticated animals be reported to animal control of other area law enforcement. (Gloria Ruth Finney, WGXA)
“Yes, so by law, if you find a lost dog lost cat, you do need to report it to your local animal control if you have an animal control; if you do not have an animal control, then you do need to report it to your local sheriff’s department or police department,” Officer Register explained.
She said Warner Robins Animal Control typically sees more calls during warmer months.
“We’ve noticed with the warmer months versus the colder months that we do have a higher call volume, and I’m guessing it’s because of the warm weather; People are more out and about, people are traveling because of the holidays, kids are out for spring break,” she said.
Officer Register also urged pet owners to make sure microchip information is current.
“If they are microchipped, make sure the chip is up to date, because if you get an animal chip and you do not register it. If you don’t keep it up to date, it’s basically pointless that you even did that in the first place,” Register said. She added that Warner Robins Animal Control offers microchipping to the public for $10.
Officer Register also warned against taking a found animal out of the county from where it was found, saying it can make it harder for owners and local agencies to reunite pets with families.
Mary Jimenez said she is thankful for the people continuing the search for Sammy, and that she hopes the person who may have picked her up will come forward so Sammy can return home.
