Dog thefts - are you concerned?

[GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat]

We’re very new to pup ownership, GeorgiePup is just 13 weeks old but I’m increasingly aware and alarmed by the rise in dog thefts and I’m finding the whole thing very stressful. Has it always been a thing and I just haven’t noticed because I didn’t have a dog or is it on the rise and I should be worried? I’m quite an anxious person anyway and finding myself worrying at night that someone will break and steal him. What do other feel about it?

Yes. My dog sparks much interest. I've had people stop me in the street and ask how much I'd want for her, or to breed her. 3 times off the top of my head.
She's spayed, and she's a mutt. But she looks like a highly desired breed. I don't like leaving her in the car (mainly unavoidable at times) and I'd panic like hell if she escaped.

I believe you can buy collars which say “spayed” on them....woven into the material.

I feel that some of the posts on here are fuelling op's worries and whilst good to be aware of the situation I'd question how much of this info has come from social media. I agree that cases have risen this year but i also read that the chance of it happening is still very rare.

I've changed my dog walking route - no more lovely forest walks - because of this. There were some reliable reports (people in my training club) of suspicious guys with vans, and then a couple of "missing" dogs that the owners are sure were thefts.

Chief constable of sussex last month

"Chief Inspector Steve Biglands said:

"We are very aware of the recent spate of reported dog thefts in Sussex, and we understand the upset and distress this causes to the dog owners.
"Our officers, including those in our recently-launched Rural Crime Team, have been responding to the reports we have already received and will continue to do so going forward.
"If someone suspects their dog has been stolen, or if they have any information about people or vehicles suspected of being involved in dog thefts, we urge them to report it to us as we will investigate."

I think you need to be sensible. I still see dogs left in cars and outside shops which is a big no no. Also people for some reason need to advertise their lives all over fakebook. I personally don't use the site but if you do make sure you don't put personal stuff on there. Also make sure you have a good secure garden and consider CCTV. One of my dogs always draws attention however he doesn't like strangers and growls at them if they get too close. I was worried he may be targeted but I think they would possibly lose limbs if they tried.

It worries me a little. My male lab is gorgeous and entire (because really he’s fostered, but we haven’t heard from the owner for over two years, so he’s most likely ours now!). I plan to get him done after Xmas, it would make him less steal able

@temproasted

I feel that some of the posts on here are fuelling op's worries and whilst good to be aware of the situation I'd question how much of this info has come from social media. I agree that cases have risen this year but i also read that the chance of it happening is still very rare.

I totally agree.

It's so important not to let social media posts fuel your anxiety. The vast majority of dogs that go missing have either run off on a walk, or have run out of a garden gate or front door. I also read somewhere that the vast majority of missing dogs are back home within 24-48 hours.

I don't think posts fuelling fear and talking about muggings etc. are particularly helpful - the reason these stories make the news is because they are rare and awful - mostly what owners need to do is use their common sense.

• don't leave your dog unattended - anywhere. In the garden, in the car or outside a shop. I also wouldn't leave a dog alone with young children or let children walk dogs on their own.

• don't let your dog sleep outdoors or in a kennel-type outbuilding. Keep your dog inside and locked up at night and when you're out.
• make sure your dog is chipped, wears a collar and tag with up to date information on, and get them neutered and spayed unless there are specific reasons not to. Un-neutered and un-spayed dogs are, sadly, at far greater risk of theft for breeding.
• don't let your dog out of your sight on walks - if they have poor recall, don't let them off the lead. Vary where you walk - the location and time. Don't share too much information with strangers. Keep your wits about you (don't be distracted by music or your phone). Keep your dog next to you on a lead when you bend over to pick up poop etc.

Every day on social media I see posts about missing dogs - the vast, vast majority have run off from their owners because they've been spooked or are following a scent. Some will have escaped back gardens or out of the door. I'd say 95% of them are re-united.

Thank you for all of your replies. I must admit I stopped reading last night as some of them were making me feel really really worried, more so than before.

Just to clarify, a cockapoo isn’t a pedigree, he’s essentially a mutt! A beautiful one mind, we always get comments when we are out with him, that’s one of the reasons I felt more cautious. We also got chatting to another dog walker yesterday who asked if we’d heard about the increase in thefts. It seems I’m not the only one to be so worried.

We have a very secure garden but we don’t leave him out there unsupervised and his crate is in the kitchen at the back of the house so he can’t be seen from the road.

We have the baby monitor in him at night and he’s never left in the car or outside if a shop, I wouldn’t do that anyway. He is chipped, wears a tag, and last night I removed all the pics (only 3) of him on Facebook.

The whole dog theft thing rumour got so bad in our area with stories of people being approached, having their dogs taken and other things that the county police actually issued a statement on Facebook...saying none of it was true. In the past year there had been only 6 cases across the whole county and no reported attempted dog nappings.

I am mindful but not obsessed by it. Yes there are thefts but I do agree with PP that lots will be dogs just having run off and got lost.

Just to clarify, a cockapoo isn’t a pedigree, he’s essentially a mutt! A beautiful one mind, we always get comments when we are out with him, that’s one of the reasons I felt more cautious. We also got chatting to another dog walker yesterday who asked if we’d heard about the increase in thefts. It seems I’m not the only one to be so worried.

He may not be a pedigree but cockapoos are very desirable to puppy farmers. Is he neutered? If it not, I would get him done ASAP to reduce the risk even further.

Not yet, he’s only 13 weeks.

@MilkshakeandFries

The whole dog theft thing rumour got so bad in our area with stories of people being approached, having their dogs taken and other things that the county police actually issued a statement on Facebook...saying none of it was true. In the past year there had been only 6 cases across the whole county and no reported attempted dog nappings.

I don't know what people achieve by spreading all these rumours on social media - it's shocking and all it does is scare people unnecessarily.

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

Not yet, he’s only 13 weeks.

Ah okay, that's fair enough!

TBH I wouldn't worry - you seem to be following all the necessary precautions. The likelihood of anything happening is tiny as long as you're sensible.

The vast majority of posts about dog thefts are dogs being stolen from gardens, outdoor kennels or breeding facilities. Most missing dogs are dogs that have escaped or run off on walks and the vast majority are found safe and well.

Our local Facebook group has "dog missing" posts most days and none of them have ever suffered any disastrous fate. They all end up back home within a day or so, normally within a few hours.

I never leave my lab unattended when he’s outside, although I doubt anyone would want an elderly dog.

Dogs do go missing, I just wouldn’t leave the dog outside alone. I think most burglars are after pregnant dogs or those that have had puppies, so they can sell them. Of course, there are those that are taken for bait too.

I am worried about this too and would never leave ddog outside a shop or cafe or in a garden but I think he's safe in the locked house. I occasionally leave him in the locked, alarmed car for a couple of min while I pop in for milk. I watch him like a hawk off lead but always have. The only behavioural change I have made recently is not walking him alone in the dark if I can help it as I think it makes us vulnerable. Try not to worry too much. I agree re neutering and chipping. The unanticipated thing that worries me far more as a newish dog owner is him being attacked by offload dogs.

@MilkshakeandFries

The whole dog theft thing rumour got so bad in our area with stories of people being approached, having their dogs taken and other things that the county police actually issued a statement on Facebook...saying none of it was true. In the past year there had been only 6 cases across the whole county and no reported attempted dog nappings.

Exactly this. Sorry you got worried op. Glad to see some differing posts for balance today.

Please enjoy your new dog. Having ours is the best thing to happen to me in a long while!

Offlead

I haven't read absolutely all of this thread but am just popping on to say YES IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIFE AND THEY ARE DOGNAPPING ANY SIZE AND AGE OF DOG AT THE MOMENT. Have a look at DogLost. In my own area of Greater London (outskirts), we have had 3 or 4 attempted dognappings - 2 successful. One dog was dumped in Central London (the people who took him were drunk so not part of organised crime) - another was wrenched from the grasp of its owner, an OAP, and is still missing. The car used in that last attack has tried again on two other occasions. We've also had some other people in a different car try to get another dog, whose owner bent down, picked up his little dog and ran away, thankfully. This is all within a 5 mile radius and has happened in the last 2-3 weeks. It is so bad that many dogwalkers in my area have bought personal alarms to carry and people are offering to accompany owners who have to otherwise walk their dog alone after dark. I myself am planning to have two leads (one on collar & one on harness) whenever I have to walk my dog after dark in the streets.

To keep your dog safe (however young/old/attractive/unattractive they be), there are a few basic rules that need to be followed:

1. Do not leave your dog tied up ANYWHERE on its own (outside shops/someone's house while you call in, etc)
2. Do not leave your dog alone in your garden.
3. Do not let anyone come up and pet your dog (this is the usual approach from thieves).
4. Be very aware of cars slowing down near you or seeing people staring at you and your dog (perhaps you see them more than once).
5. If possible, in parks and open spaces, don't let your dog run out of sight and don't let them off the lead if you they don't have good recall as it increases the chances of someone being able to grab them.
6. Do not let your children walk the dog alone.
7. Do not leave your dog in the car while you are in a shop or visiting - a lot of cars broken have been broken into while owners in a supermarket/store purely in order to steal the dog inside.

I actually thought the last post was someone taking the piss of all the scaremongering posts at first

Ok so the numbered list in the last post - most are sensible although not allowing someone to pet your dog - I think common sense should prevail e.g I'm not going to scream at an 80 year old in my village for coming near me dog on that woman's one walk a day to beat loneliness. If it's people I'm not sure about then maybe a 'sorry but please don't touch her I'm worried about Covid' might be good. (I often think that but never say it).

I've driven back home from a supermarket today and seen a few children walking dogs alone - I immediately thought of this thread. Again I think if you live in an area where there have been lots of genuine reports of thefts then it's sensible to not allow this to happen.

Is this maybe happening in London more or a particular region? I just haven't seen any really convincing argument to say that the situation is so bad that NO-ONE SHOULD EVER WALK THEIR DOG ALONE OR LET STRANGERS NEAR YOUR DOG.

Genuinely not trying to take the piss here, like I said on a previous post the thought of this happening is truly horrifying but I just think the risk is being over-stated due to social media alarmist stuff?!! Or maybe not but must be a regional thing because I haven't heard any alarming issues locally (and I live near a big city up north).

I wish it was just SM hysteria - but I did my research, here's two recent random links

Rspca & Gloucester police statement https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/rspca-police-issue-new-advice-4495088.amp

BBC report on dog thefts quoting Dogs Lost saying it was the the worst they’d known in 30yrs https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-england-54372778

TBH, I really worry about this and sometimes feel sick at the thought of taking her out, but then I do have anxiety disorder anyway so walks on my own are always stressful for me.

Mine is a working breed and I have had men try to call her over twice before (years ago mind) when shes been off lead and far away and they haven’t seen me, Both times they were tucked away, one had a squeaky toy and no dog so I don’t think it was innocent.
Reported to police and fuck all was done.
It wasn’t even announced on the local Facebook dog page run by our local police!

I try not to keep mine on lead too much because she lives to run but the way the things are currently I think I will

@catsrus

I wish it was just SM hysteria - but I did my research, here's two recent random links

Rspca & Gloucester police statement [[https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/rspca-police-issue-new-advice-4495088.amp]]

BBC report on dog thefts quoting Dogs Lost saying it was the the worst they’d known in 30yrs [[https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-england-54372778]]

It may be the worst it's been in 30 years, but that doesn't automatically mean you're at a massively high risk. Most dog thefts occur from unattended gardens and cars, boarding kennels and outbuildings.

Keep your dog within your sight or lock them up inside your home if you need to leave them unattended.

I wish it were just SM hype. Vanilla I would like to know if you have a figures to back up your claims of it being unlikely to happen? The risk needs to be considered and some changes made for dog owners to keep their dogs safe (not hysterical or panic )

Several dogs have been snatched from their owners when walking in well known dog walking area nearby this month. Police are now regulary patrolling the area and taking note of all cars parked in the car park.

Police warnings have been put on local pages, walking groups sent to dog trainers alerting us of the problem.

dog theft Dec 2020

I do not worry or lose sleep over this but I do take care.

I do not let people pet my dogs, if I do not know them (tbh I am a grump sod and dont encourage this anyway!)

My dogs are supervised.

I have working dogs some may be left in vans whilst the other dogs are working - my vehicle will always have a trainee in with them now.

We are a very rural area and have more than cctv to protect the dogs whilst on the premises.

It would help if vets checked all microchips on all dogs attending all visits.

It is sensible to be aware of dog theft.

Never worried about it.

They are always with me. Unless I leave the house, so someone would have to break in and take them, or snatch them out of my hands whilst outdoors, that would be the only way they'd get taken away from me.

They are never out of my sight when walking (mostly off lead), they do spend time alone in the garden but it is secure and I'm always watching/listening. I never leave them in the car alone, ever. If I need to stop somewhere I'll take them home first or do without whatever it is wanted to stop for.