Volunteers with the Humane Society spent Sunday scouring the Saint Francis National Forest in search of 10 dogs turned loose there, but so far, no luck.

            The Humane Society says the Helena West Helena mayor made a big mistake in setting them free, and residents wholeheartedly agree.

Volunteers spent hours beating the bushes in search of about 10 missing dogs, set loose earlier this week by Mayor James Valley.

"People have to remember these are domesticated animals that depend on people for life, and there are larger predators that can get them and they don't know how to defend themselves,” says Kay Simpson with the Pulaski County Humane Society.

            At this point, officials with the humane society are worried about everything from rabies to breeding, and there's always the chance that the dogs could form a pack.

            "If they get hungry enough or they get in groups that they can attack larger animals, smaller animals,” Simpson says.

Volunteers say they're committed to looking for these dogs as long as it takes, but finding 10 animals in a national forest isn't exactly easy.

"Like a needle in a haystack, there's been sightings, but unless we know about the sighting right away we can't get the dogs, there's too much land to cover,” says volunteer Darlene Pittman.

            Phillips County residents say they weren't happy when they heard the dogs were set loose.

"It could be dangerous, they could attack you, just while we're sitting out here fishing they could try to attack us out something like that,” says resident Reneisha Phillips.

            When KARK interviewed mayor valley Friday, he said he thought the dogs would be better off in the wild than living in their current shelter.

            But officials with the humane society say the dogs would probably be better off euthanized than fending for themselves in a national forest.

Volunteers with the humane society of the delta say they offered to take the dogs from the animal shelter and foster them, but the dogs were set loose by the time they arrived.

            If you spot any of the missing dogs, call the humane society.

            That number is 870-589-3396.