Are you more concerned about dog theft at the moment?

[Trulyatraditionalman]

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.

Local forums full of "suspicious foreigners" in vans stalking dog walkers.

Number of dogs stolen - zero.

I'm sure it sometimes happens but there's a lot of hysteria about.

Yes. Dogs, whether desirable pedigrees or mutts are being openly snatched in broad daylight. I live rurally. The police take it very seriously. A grizzly old terrier type was snatched in broad daylight in the next village last week. The thieves were spotted on CCTV and the police managed to recover her a few days ago.
I had threats to steal one of my dogs before Covid. I was told by a stranger that if I walked by him one more time (daily walk), he would take him. The dog in question is an intact male working springer with heavy traditional blanket markings and trained to the whistle. He turns heads. He is a massive twat mind.
I also have an F2b Golden Doodle. He is pale cream almost white, standard poodle size and looks like a Pledge fluffy duster. I bought him after my husband was killed, and he means the world to me. He is my constant companion and attracts a lot of attention. I only exercise them on my own land now which is covered by CCTV.

@Trulyatraditionalman

Sorry *@pogotheclown, accidentally tagged you instead of @babyalexander*!

I did wonder what I had said to warrant a tag for a second!

@LimitIsUp

BabyAlexander - was this after dark? Walking down the street or in a wide open space?

It was just starting to get dark. He'd been to the clothes bank in our village hall and was walking the main road in and out, which is pretty well lit but no houses on it.

Our dog walker has removed their branding from their van so it’s not obvious/less of a target so now just looks like a normal van from the outside. I know it’s in the news today that a dog walkers van was stolen in London with dogs inside so I think a lot of them are starting to take precautions!

A sensible move, but it's just shocking that reputable companies are even having to do this, to be honest!

@iwant2move Oh my god, I'm so sorry your husband was killed.

* Dogs of any age are massively in demand if they are pedigree.*

Yep, I've often seen people selling adult dogs for £1500 plus online whilst scrollingthe selling sites. Infact, I can't remember the last time I saw any dog advertised for less than 1K.

I don't have a dog but there has been an enormous amount of dog thefts in our local area lately. With nothing much to do during lockdown there has apparently been an increase in dog fighting for money.

There have been a lot of FB posts saying please don't leave your dogs unattended as the fight arrangers send out kids to hunt for dogs in local parks and also back gardens, where they take the dog and leave the gate open so the owner thinks it was their fault.

I also read a chilling post from a woman whose husband arranges dog fights and gets her to answer any FB posts giving away free dogs. She dresses up smartly and tells the advertiser that she is looking for a family pet then takes the dog and hands it to her husband to be torn to shreds. She said she once got 8 free dogs in one day. They don't care what age or breed it is.

Our dog walker has removed their branding from their van so it’s not obvious/less of a target so now just looks like a normal van from the outside.

I'm a dog walker and while I know van branding is a great way to advertise, it's something I've never ever done for this reason. I don't wear anything that marks me out as a dog walker - no branded clothing, no branded vehicle - nothing. I also never do "live" updates to social media so people don't know exactly when and I where I walk.

I also think using a branded vehicle is a great way of advertising that dogs are home alone, or that homes are empty.

There’s been so many dog snatches or attempted snatches in Manchester near me that my mum won’t take out the dog on her own. He’s an ex bait dog 😡 a springer mix and a rescue so good luck to anyone who tries taking him from us. He’s been known to bite before we got him and he guards my mum. We’ve told my mum to carry a crutch or walking stick with her and honestly if someone tried it in front of me I would beat the crap out them.

I live in the countryside and we've had a spate of it. Doesn't matter the age or breed of the dog; if they're pedigree they're taken for breeding, if they're older they're used for baiting/fighting.

YANBU. I'm definitely more paranoid whilst walking my dog. She's a pomeranian X but looks very much pomeranian and attracts a lot of attention, mostly from men so far, she is cute though

@Glitterb

Wow, well I am more concerned after reading this thread! I walk mine early in a morning before work and have never thought about the risk! Mine would probably be a desirable breed ( although she is spayed so probably worthless) i always keep her on a lead but I guess that makes no difference if someone wants to take her and you are alone! 🙀

I haven't rtwt since I last posted but I completely agree with this. I knew when I posted that I'd regret it as I'd be scared stiff. I realise there a problem, I don't deny there seems to be an increase since lockdown, but I also think there's some social media scaremongering going on here. The amount of people saying 'those which are worthless are being used for dog baiting / fighting' - how do you know this? Where are these huge amounts of dog fights happening in lockdown? I honestly think that's some urban myths happening right there. This might be wishful thinking on my part but I'm just not buying it for my own sanity and I'm not letting this affect me taking my dog out for a walk on our own just as I've done for the last 6 years

@Radio4Rocks

Local forums full of "suspicious foreigners" in vans stalking dog walkers.

Number of dogs stolen - zero.

I'm sure it sometimes happens but there's a lot of hysteria about.

This!!!

I’m not scared as such, but then I’ve always been vigilant. Our village has been targeted by thieves lately , and certainly the van of the thieves that stolen 17 dogs and puppies from a neighbouring village , was picked up on CCTV looking at at least 3 different houses on our road. My fields run parallel to a road , and I’ve noticed at least two different vans stopped and watching , when I’ve had the hounds out , so I’ve very obviously taken them back indoors , and then driven past them with my dash cam on , so that it records the vehicle details . Whilst I have no doubt , that they’d have no interest in my tri paw, and that the Dalmatian would savage them ( and im not kidding , she’s very protective) , I don’t want to have that aggravation.

I’m more aware, rather than worried, I think. We have no access into our back garden, although the dog, in her increasingly eccentric old age, has decided something out there is terrifying (I think the gate banged in the wind a few weeks ago and she hates loud noise) and won’t go out. She doesn’t go far from me anyway. She is a big dog so not one you could pick up and she hates being pulled on a lead. She will wear one but it needs to be loose, if she feels it tighten she sits down. So I don’t think we are at risk particularly, but I am definitely aware of it. I met a dog walker who was followed by someone in a van, she was on foot, so the van was driving very slowly. It made her uncomfortable so she got out her phone to take a picture of the ref and he drove off. She was certain it was the dog he was looking at and not her.

Loads of dogs stolen from round here but it’s rural so loads of the dogs live outside.

For the people saying it’s just social media, the police in my nearest town have just issued a warning about walking your dog after dark, because there has been a rise in dog theft and attempted dog theft.