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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are you more concerned about dog theft at the moment?

117 replies

Trulyatraditionalman · 18/02/2021 21:58

Posting on behalf of my friend who is absolutely terrified of her dog being stolen, and has even bought a rape alarm in case anything happens on her walks! There is so much dog theft due to the rise in demand for dogs/puppies and thus their value. I see a "missing" post a few times a week on my local Facebook page...awful.

For those who are dog owners, have you feel more uneasy about taking your dog out for a walk/dog theft in general in the past year?

YABU - I'm not any more cautious than I was a year ago
YANBU - I definitely feel more worried about something happening to my dog in the past year or so.

OP posts:
HappydaysArehere · 18/02/2021 22:44

This type of theft makes bank robbers look innocent. It’s not just losing a beloved dog but the agony of wondering how the poor animals are being treated by the scum who have them.

The consequences for such poor specimens of humanity should be so harsh that it becomes not worth the risk.

Verashat · 18/02/2021 22:46

@HappydaysArehere

This type of theft makes bank robbers look innocent. It’s not just losing a beloved dog but the agony of wondering how the poor animals are being treated by the scum who have them. The consequences for such poor specimens of humanity should be so harsh that it becomes not worth the risk.
I think it must be worse than knowing they have died Sad
Ideasplease322 · 18/02/2021 22:47

I walk my brother’s puppy, he keeps telling me not to leave him tied up outside a shop🙄

I would never, ever do that but he is paranoid about someone snatching his new best friend

saturdaynightgin · 18/02/2021 22:49

I live not too far from where lots of stolen dogs were discovered. Police are actively discouraging people from walking their dogs.. DM was escorted home by the police one evening last week as she was out walking her puppy just as it turned dark.

TheChip · 18/02/2021 22:51

Really? I walk my dogs at night as a personal preference. I never see anyone. I'd of thought the thieves would be more active during the day.

AprilThe8th · 18/02/2021 22:55

Yes I have a v small desirable breed.Im worried that I'll get followed.

Verashat · 18/02/2021 22:57

People still tie their dogs up outside shops where I live.

Daisysflowers · 18/02/2021 23:00

@NiceTwin this is a huge worry of mine, we use kennels for my dog when we are away which is usually frequently in non covid times.

Worried to hear a dog kennel was broken into. What area was this?

Respectmyauthoritah · 18/02/2021 23:01

How sad that it has come to this Sad is there anything that can be done about it? What about banning private sales of dogs? So breeders would need a special licence and anyone caught selling dogs could be prosecuted. All theft is horrible, but when it's a living, breathing thing that will suffer greatly from being taken from its owner its just heartbreaking.

ImAncient · 18/02/2021 23:02

It’s the dog baiting that worries me as well. Mine is an older dog & neutered but very pretty. I’ve had people stop & ask if they can take a photo. No. We live rurally as well & been a few thefts here. Very concerning.

Whoever called people scum is right. But it’s the idiots paying huge sums of money for crosses or cavapoo or whatever. There needs to be a limit on what people can charge legally.

Branleuse · 18/02/2021 23:07

No not particularly. I think if i had a posh designer pup. A french bulldog or a cockerpoo etc then i might be more worried, but ive always thought that was one of the risks of a designer/pedigree dog or cat. Someone just taking it from your garden.

Zenithbear · 18/02/2021 23:10

I tend to walk with other dog walkers, friends with dogs, dp or one of my dc.
If I'm on my own which isn't very often I'm afraid they get a shorter more local walk.
One is quite big and an absolute loon if anyone comes too close to me when we're walking.
Tbh if anyone ever touched me they would both go into full on attack mode as would I if anyone attempted to take them.
They're both extremely noisy if necessary.
They're both middle aged, neutered, chipped and not fashionable breeds.
Our driveway has an electric gate at the end and then there is another key locked gate to get to the front door. The dogs are never out front without one of us. The back garden is completely enclosed and the neighbours garden is an 8ft+ drop downhill from ours and is also enclosed.
We've never left them outside shops, in our cars or camervan on their own.

NiceTwin · 18/02/2021 23:12

@Daisysflowers Leicestershire.

If you're worried, ask your kennels about their security. They should be happy to put your mind at rest.

Somebody would have to angle grind their way into ours, which wouldn't go unheard as the house is 7 metres from the block.
I can confidently say, I can't do anything else to make it more secure.

Crystalcrazy · 18/02/2021 23:12

Yes, I am more worried now.

I have a dog walker for the days I work and a few weeks ago a man in a van attempted to take the dog from her. She has now invested in a Boblov body camera and carrying strap. The whole set up cost around £100.

Also there are stories near to where I live of people posing as RSPCA officers. They have been knocking on doors and saying that they have had reports of dogs being mistreated and instructing the owner to hand the dog over.

I have also recently heard of parcel delivery drivers taking dogs and a cat, one incident happened about 10 miles from where I live.

I have made plans as to what I would do if someone tries to snatch my dog. I would get my phone out and take photos using an app such as messenger or WhatsApp and send to my daughter so that if they attempted to take my phone the photos have already been sent out.

I also make a mental note of my surroundings and if needed what I could I use as a weapon, maybe rocks, branches, anything I could throw at them.

I would possibly let my dog run free so that he could escape?

I’ve arranged to have a secure, high fence and gate fitted in my garden in a couple of weeks. I’m also looking into getting battery operated CCTV which can be fitted quite easily.

It’s truly awful.

Blyatiful · 18/02/2021 23:16

@Amijustagrump my friend's dog was in that van that was stolen today, in North London. Her dog is still missing.

TheChip · 18/02/2021 23:20

Its absolutely devastating that these things happen. The poor dogs must be so scared and so must their owners. I hope they are found safe and well and returned to their homes!

iwanteggfriedricefuckingpronto · 18/02/2021 23:26

Someone I know once had her Pomeranian stolen, police knew where to look though and she got her back. This was years ago.

I have a small breed popular puppy, I'm not worried as such but I am alert and would never leave her tied up outside a shop etc even off lead she refuses to leave my side.

baileysisforme · 18/02/2021 23:29

Yes I am. We have a female dog that would be considered desirable. She hasn't been neutered either. So I have decided I won't be walking her alone and DP will have to walk her as I don't feel comfortable.
I'm also considering not leaving her near the window at the front of the house when we are out as she has a tendency to sit on the back of the sofa where she can be seen.

Springsnake · 18/02/2021 23:35

My friend has just paid £2,500 for a puppy ,it’s going to be loose in her garden every day when she goes back to work.

Tanfastic · 18/02/2021 23:46

My dog is nearly 15 and is very much on his last stretch of life. I'm still worried and it really upsets me at the thought of someone using him as bait. Absolute sickos that do this.

I walk mine once a day but only at night up my road and back and my ds comes with me.

itsnotmeitsu · 18/02/2021 23:57

As somebody who's had rescue dogs from a particular charity; the adoption agreement states you will not leave the dog tied up on its own in a public place. We would never do this. When we first started adopting we went with the contract. Now, I would never, ever, leave a dog of mine, whatever age, breed, etc tied up in a public area, or out of my sight when on the run. Dogs are stolen for all sorts of reasons, so you can't assume yours is safe from this.

nevernotstruggling · 19/02/2021 00:11

Jesus. I didn't have a fash dog until mrs hinch became a thing and got the same dog as us. He's had a lot more attention the last year or so and people asking about him.
My dog is neutered so no good for breeding but the baiting terrifies me.
We are walking him on a beach at the moment as I can't stand the mud. It's very open and never empty of other dog walkers.

This thread has made me rethink where we walk him now 😢

NiceTwin · 19/02/2021 00:14

@Springsnake

My friend has just paid £2,500 for a puppy ,it’s going to be loose in her garden every day when she goes back to work.
I don't get this!

Would you leave you purse with £2.5k in plain sight for people to see?
No.
So why the hell leave the dog out all day, especially when it is more than the monetary value, there is the emotional attachment.
Beggars belief.

FTM91 · 19/02/2021 06:52

Yes. Where I live we have even started seeing reports about dog walking vans being stolen with the dogs still in the back!
I don't think it matters the breed, age, neutered or not, all dogs are at risk as they would just dump the ones of no use (or possibly worse Blush )
Mine is very nervous of other humans especially men and wouldn't get within grabbing distance but it still worries me

Shelby10 · 19/02/2021 07:00

Yes I am a bit anxious. Main reasons are that I’ve seen a few Facebook posts lately plus a local man was actually thumped last weekend while out walking his dog as another man was trying to take it off him!