Dog Thieves?

[blackcat77]

Just a word of warning - I live near Havant just outside Portsmouth and I have three dogs. Today my partner let them out first thing into our garden which is definitely dog proof. The access to the back garden is by a back gate. I know that this was firmly latched as we always make sure that it is. Somehow two of the dogs were able to escape the garden which leads me to believe that someone had let them out. Fortunately my OH found the youngest dog very quickly, she was just across the road but we had to get the car out and go searching for our other dog (fortunately the oldest dog had not gone anywhere.) We did find her, she was only up the road but this has really made me wonder whether or not someone had tried to dog-nap them and been interrupted - OH had seen a couple of people hanging around outside one of the houses over the road but didn't think too much about it. To say I was worried about her is putting things mildly! We live fairly close to a busy main road and the thought of her either causing an accident or being hurt herself was just awful. Our back gate is now extremely well bolted and padlocked! We know that our fencing is secure, it's not a very big garden! So other dog owners please be aware of this. Also I'm sure that I have seen in soneone's post fairly recently a link to a website aimed at lost or stolen dogs and you can report them there? Could someone put up the link again please? Thanks.

[jules77]

Thats terrible, but not the first time I have heard a similar story. Fortunately, any would be thieves would have to come through our garage to get to the garden, but it doesnt stop me worrying about someone breaking in. I heard of someone who left the house for only 15 minutes, and came back to find her champion stud dog had been stolen from the kitchen. Basically he was held to ransom, and the police were involved, but very scary for the owner.

Not sure if you mean the dog lost site?

http://www.doglost.co.uk/page.aspx?pg=72

[terambulan]

Dog-nappers usually steal pedigree bitches for breeding & selling on.

[lankeela]

Sadly it is any sort of dog that is vulnerable these days, even if they only get a tenner for them down the local pub.

Make sure your dog is tattooed or microchipped and it will help to get them back if they do go missing.

If you email [email protected] they will put a warning for people living in your area.

[blackcat77]

Yes, that is the site I was thinking of. Thanks very much.
My dogs are all microchipped and have their dog discs on their collars. I did the Bronze Good Citizens Award 2 weeks ago and the examiner told us that it is now LAW that you have to have these criteria on the dog's disc:
Your surname
Your address
Your postcode
Your telephone no

There is a large fine for not displaying these details - I think it was �5000 but I'm not entirely sure.

[Whickerman]

there are other reasons for dog - napping

Please stop reading now if you're anxious about your dog, as this may be upsetting

This is from the US,
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/0 2/0218_040218_dogfighting.html

but there are reports here in Ireland and on your media in the UK of it happening here too.

http://www.irishdogs.ie/News/2005/20051119a.ht m

[Sammc]

Thats awful i find it almost impossible to believe anybody could watch such a thing - what kind of people are they! Its so sad to think of any animal being hurt on purpose. I used to leave the dog out the back sometimes when I nipped out but I wont anymore