How worried are you about your dog being stolen?

[MistakesOwned]

More and more requests on FB to share details of stolen dogs. Really local to me and it’s heartbreaking. I live alone and walk my dogs by myself. I use popular dog walks but even they can be quiet and lonely. I’ve ordered a personal alarm to take with me but would love any other tips please.

I am not worried about this but there are cetrtain things I would not do eg leave a dog unattended or tied up in a public place.

Wre walk in totally desserted areas and a long way from roads so very unclikely to be dog snatchers around. We also do not have a set routine. The working cockers are probably the most at risk but they are not out of my sight at all.

The collies would be returned if stolen

@LochJessMonster

We’ve just had about 50 dogs/puppies stolen from 2 local breeders. Cockers/cockapoos mostly. Then this week a breeder/boarding Kennels was targeted and they took breeding stock, puppies and boarded pets.

Spaniels are often taken as they are working dogs and usually kept outside in kennels, and in higher numbers.

Was this the kennels in Suffolk? I saw that case on Facebook - there was a litter of lab puppies stolen too.

If not - dreadful that it's happened twice in a week.

We have two obviously geriatric dogs (mixed/inexpensive breed) that I would worry less about, in terms of theft. But also a young, very good looking, intact, popular breed dog that I watch like a halk. He has stud £ written all over him for anyone who knew that. When asked I always say he is neutered and hope his hairy arse covers up sight of his testicles.

Despite that, for all dogs I am worried enough to:

• only let off lead in areas I know well
• always keep within my sight on walks
• always keep on lead in lesser known or new areas
• never leave in car
• never leave alone in garden, watched from in house or am out in the garden also

A friend of mine was once followed in a van by a couple who stopped her on a walk with her female Tibetan Terriers after asking a ton of questions about them and trying to take photos. She had given misleading answers, saying they were male and unwell, but still worried when the van seemed to try and track her back home. She walked in the wrong direction and then his on someone's drive until she could get a lift back home.

The thought of any of our dogs being taken and never knowing their fate leaves my blood running stone cold.

I worry about this, I have a 4 month old miniature poodle who would be a perfect stud. I'd never leave him tied up anywhere but it didn't occur to me someone might snatch him from me. That's got me worried.

My dog’s collar tag states that she’s neutered (she is) because it’s not immediately obvious and I hope that will put off any idiot that might be tempted to take her to breed pups.

Where I live (a small village in Hampshire) someone had their puppy snatched off them while walking it on lead on the main street

A couple basically drove and stopped right next to her, snatched and bundled puppy into the car and then drove off

@Juiceey

I worry about this, I have a 4 month old miniature poodle who would be a perfect stud. I'd never leave him tied up anywhere but it didn't occur to me someone might snatch him from me. That's got me worried.

Please don't worry too much. The likelihood of it ever happening to you is vanishingly small. The reason the stories are "big news" is precisely because it's so rare.

Well no-one would want mine but while it does happen it is surely rare. I don't personally know anyone it has happened to and I know lots of folk with dogs. The markinf the house thing goes around dog groups regularly but is on snopes as an urban myth.

wow. I've never even thought about it.

We have a spaniel, lovely looking dog, but he is neutered.
Fortunatly he tends to veer away from strangers, they would be doing well to catch him, but if they had food.....

The ones local to me were owners walking on lead dogs and it was a case of physically assaulting the owner and trying to grab the dogs.

I say trying, one of the dogs bit in one case and chased them off, lol

But... we had a bit of a spate of crimes around then - I am assuming it’s to do with lockdown

I would be heartbroken if this happened but I can't worry about it as there are too many other things to worry about iykwim.

Bear in mind, if you have a ‘desirable dog’ that you may be approached by people who appear to just be chatty dog fans who want to ask you questions about your lovely pup. Lie to them. Tell them that your pedigree dog is a mixed breed mutt. Don’t tell them his/her name. Tell them he/she is neutered or if it’s obvious that they aren’t, mention that they are a carrier for something genetically undesirable. Play it down no matter how much you want to tell them how great your dog is.

I know it sounds paranoid! There are people you see all the time and so you get to know who are regular dog owners and who might be scoping you out for theft. Scumbags.

I spend an awful lot of time on Facebook sharing stolen dog posts.
It has grown massively.
If you are interested there is a petition on the Facebook page Bruce Forsyth Vets get scanning for the Government to do more about dogs getting stolen.
Yes I know he is no longer with us,but one of his daughters had her dog stolen that is why he set up the Facebook page.

link to petition for compulsory scanning of dogs and cats

Where I am someone broke into a kennels and took all the dogs. It’s so sad

You may be quite local to me Paranoid

I want to get my dog a sign saying ‘I’m neutered so I’m no good to you’

We have a gorgeous cockapoo. Out on a walk last week a man actually stopped and got out of his car and said he was gorgeous and where are we from/where did we get him. Scary!!

@PollyPolson

link to petition for compulsory scanning of dogs and cats

Thank you. I did not know how to do that

I know it sounds paranoid!

I don't think it is. Almost 2000 a year are stolen in the UK. Over the average lifetime of a dog (12 years) more than 20,000 will be stolen.

We all have to enjoy our lives, as do our dogs, but I don't think it paranoid to take the risk seriously - because the impact of it happening to you is huge.

Risk = likelihood x impact

We have an OES and we're forever getting stopped by people to admire Ddog. I don't take him out now on my own 😔 he's a big softy and would go off with anyone, especially if they had treats.
It's heartbreaking that dogs are being stolen. Just awful.

Well I’d never considered being mugged on a walk for her until this thread. So I wasn’t worried....now I am a bit. Though I’d put up a good fight. She’s a “designer” dog so I guess quite attractive to dog thieves.

She is spayed So couldnt be used for breeding but how would a dog thief know this.

I might get her a “neutered and chipped” collar.

Not worried at all he is a mongrel and not a designer mongrel a proper old fashioned mongrel with scars from fighting (Romanian Street Dog). Also he's a git and growls at people who ome too close. I think he is safe.

The thing is - yes, lots of dogs are reported as stolen, but that's not the same thing as them having been stolen.

I've seen loads of posts on Facebook over the years of "dog stolen from garden" or whatever and it later turns out the dog legged it out of an open gate or disappeared over the wall. Many of them have run off on walks or followed a scent and gotten themselves lost too. And how many are "stolen" by ex partners in disputes over who gets to keep the dog? It's so important to remember that not all dogs reported as stolen have actually been stolen.

I'm not at all saying that dog theft doesn't happen but I do think it's important to be realistic about it. 2,000 dogs a year is nothing when you look at how many millions of dogs are owned as pets in this country - it's a tiny tiny percentage overall.

Just be sensible. Don't leave your dog unattended in your garden, tied up outside a shop or in your car. Be very careful about letting them off lead if their recall isn't good and make sure your house and garden are safe.