Residents have formally requested guidance. Animal Control has formally declined to provide any. County ordinance 14-C has been enclosed without comment. The full moon has not.

HARLAN’S CREEK, WV — Residents of the Elm Creek Road corridor have submitted a joint letter to the Harlan’s Creek Animal Control Office requesting formal guidance following the observation of a large bipedal canine-adjacent entity in the area on three consecutive nights, each coinciding with the approach and peak of the full moon. The letter, signed by thirty residents, describes the entity as ‘tall, upright, and communicating something through its posture that we could not identify but could not ignore.’ It was filed last Thursday. A written response was received by Friday morning, which Animal Control staff have confirmed is faster than their standard processing time for most matters.

The response, authored by Officer Beverly Marsh and reviewed by this network, states that the described entity falls outside Animal Control’s current licensing jurisdiction, that no citation can be issued, and that the office is, in Officer Marsh’s words, ‘not in a position to comment further on the nature or intentions of the subject.’ The letter enclosed, without explanation or annotation, a photocopied excerpt of Harlan County Ordinance 14-C. Ordinance 14-C governs the regulation of domestic animal noise complaints between the hours of 10pm and 6am. Residents have confirmed their dogs have not stopped barking since Tuesday.

Community Notice

It stood at the tree line for approximately four minutes. Then it made a sound. Then the sound stopped. My dog has been under the bed since Wednesday and I have stopped pretending that is not information.

— Elm Creek Road resident, joint letter signatory, name withheld by request

The Entity: What Has Been Reported

Witness accounts across all three nights are consistent in the key particulars. The entity is described as between seven and eight feet tall when standing upright. It has been observed at or near the tree line at the eastern end of the corridor, in the vicinity of the old drainage easement behind the Kowalski property. It moves, according to multiple accounts, ‘with purpose,’ a characterisation this network notes is unusual in witness reporting and which has been offered independently by eleven separate residents. It has not approached any structure directly. It has not retreated quickly. It has, on each occasion, simply been present for a period of time and then not been present, with no witness able to identify the exact moment of departure. The dogs, however, appear to have noted it.

Officer Marsh, reached for comment, confirmed that she stands by her written response and that her office has previously handled a displaced river otter, a small bear who had located a bakery, and what she describes only as ‘the duck situation of 2019.’ She stated that she is ‘not without experience in unusual animal matters.’ She declined to elaborate on whether the current situation qualifies as an unusual animal matter or as something else. She was asked directly whether the enclosed copy of ordinance 14-C was intended as practical guidance or as a message of some kind. She said ‘I enclosed what I felt was relevant’ and ended the call at a normal pace that nonetheless felt final.

Jurisdiction, Ordinance, And The Question Nobody Has Formally Asked

The Department of Cryptid Affairs regional office confirmed this morning that a Form DCA-9 has been received from Sheriff Calhoun’s department and is being processed. A DCA spokesperson stated that the agency ‘takes all reports of unlicensed bipedal entities seriously’ and that residents should ‘continue to follow local guidance while the matter moves through appropriate channels.’ Residents note that local guidance currently consists of a photocopy of a noise ordinance. The DCA spokesperson said this was ‘a local matter at this stage.’ Arthur Bellamy, DCA field representative, did not provide a statement. He was, however, observed driving slowly along Elm Creek Road at approximately 6:45 this morning with his window down. He was not observed stopping.

I’ve handled things that bit, things that floated, and one thing that did both at the same time. I enclosed what I felt was relevant.

— Officer Beverly Marsh, Harlan’s Creek Animal Control

Mayor Robert Pruitt issued a brief statement this afternoon describing the situation as ‘a matter receiving appropriate attention from the relevant offices’ and expressing confidence that ‘residents of Elm Creek Road can expect the same standard of care and communication that Harlan’s Creek has always provided.’ He did not specify what standard that was. He did note that the ordinance library is publicly available online and encouraged residents to ‘familiarise themselves with the resources at their disposal.’ Residents have read ordinance 14-C three times. It covers dogs. It covers them very thoroughly. It does not cover this.

The full moon cycle concludes tonight. The next full moon is in twenty-nine days. Residents have asked whether the entity is expected to return. Animal Control has not responded to this follow-up letter. The DCA has said the matter is in processing. Sheriff Calhoun confirmed that her department responded to the area on two of the three nights and that the matter is being handled through appropriate channels. She delivered this statement with identical inflection to every previous statement she has made to this network about every previous matter. This is either reassuring or not. Authorities continue to urge caution. The dogs are urging something else entirely, and have been doing so continuously since Tuesday, in apparent violation of ordinance 14-C, which Animal Control has so far declined to enforce.

This is Hal Ridgeway. WTC will continue to cover the Elm Creek Road situation as it develops. Residents with additional observations are encouraged to contact the tip line. Residents whose dogs have additional observations are encouraged to contact whoever it is that handles that, which at this stage does not appear to be Animal Control. Reporting continues.