Illinois Man Arrested in Iowa City // Accused of Stealing Great Dane from Owner's Yard

32-year-old Keyson McGowan of Decatur, IL, was arrested yesterday afternoon after an Iowa City resident accused him of stealing a harnessed great dane from his yard:

Police say a homeowner on 250^th St. noticed a maroon minivan with Illinois plates pull into his driveway at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday and then drive away a short time later.

The resident then noticed his great dane, which had been tethered in his front yard, was missing, according to a Johnson County Sheriff's Office complaint.

Police located the van traveling southbound on Interstate 380 and pulled the vehicle over, according to police.

McGowan has been charged with 3rd degree theft, which is an aggravated misdemeanor.

This is a good reminder for folks to be mindful of their pets. Several years ago (back when we still had Moogie and before Nero was born), a guy came to our home selling something -- like scam magazine subscriptions or oranges out of his trunk something stupid like that. I wasn't home, but Husband Mark was.

Mark spoke briefly with the guy and gently declined his commercial offer. While they were visiting, the guy was overly fixated on Ms. Lion. He thought she was the most adorable dog in the world. Little did he know that Ms. Lion is called Ms. Lion, in part, because of her ferocious attitude -- but I'm digressing.

After the guy left, Mark went downstairs to check on the laundry. Moogie began barking and barking and barking. Mark assumed that Moogie was just barking at traffic through the window, but eventually came upstairs to tell Moogie to quiet down.

He caught our door-to-door salesman on our front porch and opening up our unlocked front door. He immediately apologized and muttered an explanation before booking out of our house and out of our neighborhood. I can only imagine that he was trying to coax Ms. Lion and/or Moogie to him.

Needless to say, he keep our door locked even when we're home and awake now.

But it's a good reminder that people steal pets. They steal them from homes. They steal them from yards. They steal them from farms. They steal them from stores. Sometimes they are looking for easy pets. Other times, they want them for more nefarious reasons -- like dog fights or puppy mills.

Either way, keep an eye out for your four-legged family members.