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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Has anyone ever had a dog stolen?!

23 replies

HelloYouTwo · 15/10/2019 14:42

We have a very sweet little trusting dog who people love to stop and pet. Not a vicious bone in her body and she loves everyone.

I enjoy taking her into our local town but there’s the odd shop that won’t allow dogs and with lots of passing foot traffic I worry about leaving her tied up outside even if only for 5 mins. Am I being mad to think someone might steal her? Maybe more likely they’d try to feed her something unsuitable?

Just wondering if this is a irrational fear or if anyone’s come out of a shop to find their dog gone!

OP posts:

DogAndCatPerson · 15/10/2019 14:49

It does happen. There have been a spate of dog thefts near me recently. Not from outside shops but from parks/dog walking fields where people walk their dogs offlead . They seem to be focusing on pedigree dogs, which would make sense as they are what they could make the most money on either stealing to order or stealing for breeding purposes. Bastards.

spiderlight · 15/10/2019 14:49

Please please please don't ever leave your dog tied up outside a shop even for a minute. Theft aside (including the very real possibility that she could be swiped as a bait dog for dog-fighters), there are all sorts of other things that could happen. She might be sweet and trusting with you, but if she's tied up and anxious because you've disappeared and a toddler runs up and hugs her, say, or a bunch of bored teens decide to tease her, she might snap out of fear, and you'd never know exactly what happened because you're not there to defend and protect her. It's just not worth the risk.

pigsDOfly · 15/10/2019 14:50

No, please never leave your dog tied up outside a shop.

It isn't an irrational fear that she might get stolen. It's a very realistic fear, dog thefts are a very big, very real problem. And leaving a dog outside a shop is asking for it to be stolen.

I only ever take my dog into pet shops or the garden centre. I just assume other shops won't allow her in. Although she's small and I can carry her I just never ask if I can take her into shops.

When I go shopping I leave her at home, where she's safe, well as safe as I can make her.

Expressedways · 15/10/2019 14:55

I was with a friend and we caught someone trying to steal her dog. The woman then proceeded to shout about animal cruelty because the dog had been outside the co-op for all of about 2 minutes and apparently it looked like it might rain... and that’s why she was trying to untie the lead. So yes it does happen and I think you’re right to be worried.

missbattenburg · 15/10/2019 15:00

Another person here who would never leave a dog tied up outside a shop, even for a minute.

Dog theft is on the rise at an alarming rate. Little dogs are more vulnerable to this than big dogs.

Keep her safe xx

Soubriquet · 15/10/2019 15:05

Yes never leave a dog tied outside

I will never forget hearing the story of a little old man with his little Labrador

Everyday he and his lab would go to the shop and buy a paper.

He would tie her up outside and would go in and out. 5 mins max

Came out one day to the dog gone. Someone stole her and then threw her off a bridge and killed her

Celebelly · 15/10/2019 15:10

Never tie a dog up outside a shop. Aside from the theft issue, you're leaving them open to being rushed at by kids or frightened, and even the calmest dog can react in an unexpected way if they are scared. And if you aren't there to witness it, someone can claim your dog attacked them unprovoked and you aren't able to disprove it. It's never worth the risk.

DogAndCatPerson · 15/10/2019 15:13

Jesus, Soubriquet

Grinchly · 15/10/2019 15:16

Soubriquet - I can vouch as to the truth of that story. She was a Border Collie though. Those responsible were caught and prosecuted, thanks to CCTV. Would never make up for the utter heartbreak though, would it?

missbattenburg · 15/10/2019 15:19

I can feel my heart panicking just at the thought of a stolen battendog.

The sheer torture of not knowing what happened to him (or of knowing he suffered).

Right. I'm off to double check the back garden gate is locked...

Soubriquet · 15/10/2019 15:27

Was it a BC?

It was so long ago how I can barely remember but I still remember the actual story. Still brings tears to my eyes as well for both the poor man and the poor dog

Basil90 · 15/10/2019 15:28

Never never never ever leave your dog accessible to others. There are so vile people out there. Please keep your dog safe

Medievalist · 15/10/2019 16:20

Can't imagine ever leaving a dog tied up outside a shop for all the reasons already given.

Branster · 15/10/2019 16:40

Please don’t leave your dog outside like this anywhere. It is not an irrational fear at all. People steal dogs for breeding or as bait for dog fights. It is not worth the risk.

GCAcademic · 15/10/2019 17:44

There are a few people round where I live who have had dogs stolen. There's not a chance I would leave my dog unattended in my back garden, much less tied up outside a shop.

beachcomber70 · 15/10/2019 18:53

Years ago we tied up our trusting, friendly crossbreed dog outside a local shop for 5 minutes to come out and find her gone.

We rushed round the corner luckily just in time to see her beside an old woman who had the key in her door ready to take her into her house. We might never have seen her again. The woman just handed the lead over. I think she'd tried it before.

I've never forgotten the panic I felt then and would never tie a dog outside a shop again. I've also seen kids rush up to dogs and throw themselves at them in delight, and seen the alarm on a dogs face who was not used to children.

TeacupRex · 15/10/2019 19:18

Unfortunately nowadays dogs are worth a lot more money-wise, it just isn't worth the risk to leave a dog unattended outside a shop. And not just outside shops, dogs are being taken from country shows, parks, vans.. anywhere your eyes aren't on your dog 100% of the time, there's a chance of them getting nicked.

Only recently someone I know had left their beagle inside their work van, came back to find some men had his van door open and were about to steal the dog! Opportunistic scumbags are everywhere!

adaline · 15/10/2019 19:30

I would never ever leave my dog tied up anywhere, sorry.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 15/10/2019 22:23

I will leave my younger dog tied up, but only if I can see her through the shop window the whole time. Otherwise, no.

StillMedusa · 15/10/2019 23:39

One of our conditions on getting a dog (as a family) was to promise that we would never ever leave her tied up outside a shop...
Mine is a rare breed , and attracts attention (cos she's gorgeous) and I wouldn't risk her for the sake of popping in anywhere!

Just don't!

BeesKnees4 · 15/10/2019 23:42

Dog theft is big business now, never tie your dog up.

OhMyDarling · 15/10/2019 23:46

Never ever leave a dog tied up outside a shop, or anywhere.
I have massively long lunge leads for mine after a friends dog was nearly stolen while off lead at a local park.
Rarely let them off lead unless I can see there is literally no one else for miles.

Medievalist · 16/10/2019 00:00

Rarely let them off lead unless I can see there is literally no one else for miles.

Erm - that's a bit extreme isn't it? Surely you've got to balance the small risk of a dog being stolen from under your nose with the benefits of them being able to run around off the leash? Surely if you can see them and keep reasonably close the risk of theft is minimal?

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