Can we talk about dog theft?

[Tatiannatomasina]

It is becoming increasingly apparant that dog theft is on the rise. Little seems to be done about it and most dogs are never found or returned to their owners. I think the scale is vast and relatively unknown to most people. I was totally unaware until my sisters two dogs were stolen and everyday I see more and more stories. Bring Dinky and Doris Home, Ruby and Beetle, Lets get Willow Home are just a few. If you have experienced dog theft can you tell your story here, I just want others to be aware how easy it is to lose your precious pets. By spreading the word we might be able to reunite people and their dogs, or better yet prevent it from happening again.

Years ago my friend went away and left his gigantic Alaskan Malamute Shamu at home in the care of one of his other mates who stayed in his house whilst he was away.

His mate unfortunately left a ground floor window wide open and a local guy, an opportunist thief lured Shamu out of the window.

When my friend got back he put posters up everywhere and he got a phone call from the thief demanding a ransom.

Shamu by now had been missing for a week.

My friend decided to take an unusual stance and said NO to the ransom money. I think it was £500 and the thief kept dropping the amount until he finally told him, “Please come and get your dog he won’t stop eating and it’s costing me a fortune!”

So they arranged a meeting place and Shamu was none the worse for wear, thank goodness and the hapless thief was not rewarded and made off sharpish.

Shamu became a local neighbourhood legend after that.

Sadly there are so many other awful stories that I see on Facebook.

facebook.com/HelpfindIzzyWizz/?tsid=0.09553315228323156&source=result

facebook.com/missingberternie/?tsid=0.41090124431416&source=result

This is a superb site that unites volunteers to help find missing dogs

www.doglost.co.uk/

A couple of years ago there was a big thread on the missing dogs that were stolen in a dog walkers van, one was a greyhound I think and it was ages before they were found. I think they were all found eventually after being dumped individually all over the place.

Here is the story of the theft

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/news/london/four-pets-missing-after-dog-walkers-van-stolen-in-south-london-a3294896.html%3famp

Nina is a lurcher not a greyhound and was found.

Shamu sounds amazing 🤣 I know the reward for Ruby and Beetle reached £10,000 and still nothing came of it. Its like they just vanished into the ether. The not knowing is the very hardest thing to cope with. My sister is crumbling and I feel bloody useless. If we can reach a few hundred people here on mumsnet and they can spread the word to their friends and family it can only be a positive thing. Doglost have been great, but so much more needs to be done to stop this horrendous crime.

Microchips are great if a dog is found and scanned but I’d the chip is cut out or never taken to a vet or abandoned then it may never be found.

It’s bloody heartbreaking. Your sister must be devastated.

Many pet owners place the same importance as a family member on their pets and the suffering is the same as if a relative was missing and as such the punishment for stealing a beloved pet should be severe.

I would love to hear from anyone who managed to recover their dog to ask them how they did it. We have spent weeks going over and over it again and again, someone somewhere must know something. I know other families are suffering too and wish I could find a way to reach out to them and build a giant network where we all work together to stop this.

Nina the lurcher’s owner used to post on here.

.....

www.stolenandmissingpetsalliance.co.uk/

Petition here

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/244530

Our missing girls

I found Nina’s story of being found

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/apr/07/i-found-my-stolen-dog-experience

Animal theft or abduction should be treated as far more serious a crime than normal property theft, but I don't believe it is? People develop relationships with their pets, and love them etc. But I don't think that is recognised and the person may as well have stolen a TV in the eyes of the law. Or correct me if I am wrong.

Nina's story is amazing. I have messaged her owner to ask if she can help us at all. Until you go through it yourself you honestly have no idea how hard the journey is.
The police so far have done nothing to help. They have no interest and told my sister the dogs were probably used for bait 😢

That’s awful about the police.

Message or tweet Paul O’Grady as he has publicised missing dogs before.

The bait thing does happen but also small cute dogs are popular pets to be sold on as pets.

We have messaged and tweeted and facebooked everyone we can think of. We have tried with the tv and media but no one wants to help us. Its like your worst nightmare where every door is closed to you. I have never wanted to be famous but god it would really help us in this situation. What can you do when you are literally screaming for help and no one will listen.

Im guessing you are already aware of Harvey’s Army on Facebook and their website?

www.harveysarmy.com/

So sorry op, how did it happen if it’s not too painful to tell. Perhaps getting some details out of the breed and area people could be vigilant.

pilates

They were stolen from her sisters car in Sainsburys car park.

Deliberately taken. Just vile.

Pilates - here is their page

facebook.com/groups/315026482417824?group_view_referrer=profile_browser

Probably covered but was there not CCTV at Sainsburys

Highly doubt it in a big car park and the dogs were small enough to be carried off in a bag or transferred to the car next to it.

The CCTV was hopeless, she was parked too far away. Sainsburys were great and let her view the footage herself just to make sure nothing was missed. She also requested that all the town center footage was checked but again nothing was captured. I believe the thieves must have been in car. Her car had totally blacked out windows, no one would have been able to see the girls inside so how did they know? She runs her own business and takes the girls with her everywhere but doesn't usually drive that specific car. We have no idea how they were taken from a locked vehicle and with no damage to it, but they are gone and we are left searching.

God this is truly awful. Do you think someone followed her into the carpark knowing she had the dogs in the car with the intent of stealing them?

We honestly have no idea, she went there straight from work with the girls and returned to find they were gone. She does not believe it is anyone she knows.

Was the vehicle accidentally unlocked?

I have to walk back to my car half a dozen times to clock the key to make sure it’s locked after I once thought I’d locked it and hadn’t.

I’m thinking the dark windows might have made someone think there were tools or other valuables and took the dogs as an opportunist theft.

My sister believes it was locked, we are just totally baffled as to how someone knew the girls were there.