A local family wants answers regarding why Polk County Animal Control killed their dog less than a day after picking the animal up.

The Wilkes family said their dog, Ace, had escaped his fence Feb. 22 and wandered to the Dollar General store in Aragon, as he sometimes does.

Aragon police called 911 for animal control and officers came and picked up the dog.

The family said they discovered the dog missing after they got home and after animal control was closed. They called the next day and were told their dog had been euthanized.

Randy Lacey, Polk County Safety director, said the incident is being investigated internally.

Lacey was given the responsibility to head animal control, along with fire, emergency management and 911, when he took over the director’s job.

Polk County Animal Control was the subject of another internal investigation last year when a Rockmart resident complained that her dog was taken by animal control officers but never documented to be in the facility.

That dog was one of three thoroughbreds that went missing from the neighborhood that week. Animal control had placed a trap in the neighborhood during that time at the request of another homeowner.

The Polk County Police Department cleared animal control of any wrongdoing in that instance.