A message from a reader:
Apparently there is this guy trying to steal people’s dogs; it is doing the rounds on Facebook groups in Trowbridge. He is asking the dog’s breed and then waiting for them to get back to the car park to steal them. The people he is approaching are older and on their own.
My aunt walks her dog in the park and I would hate to think someone approached her in the park and stole her dog. It would be awful! Could you warn people this is happening?
Thanks x
Last month, police reassured the Wiltshire Times that they had not seen a spike in the numbers of dog thefts but that does not necessarily mean that this is not happening. There are always dog thieves and as we wise up to the methods they use, they invent new ways to target our dogs and our vulnerabilities.
Here are Blue Cross’s recommendations for keeping your dog safe from dog thieves:
- Think twice before leaving your dog tied up outside a shop.
- Don’t leave your dog alone in the car, even for a few minutes.
- Make sure your dog is microchipped and that you keep your contact details up-to-date.
- Your dog should always wear a collar and ID tag with your name and address on it.
- Take clear photographs of your dog from various angles, and update them regularly.
- Have lots of photographs of yourself with your dog, to help you to prove ownership if needed.
- Take care when choosing someone to look after for your dog if you are going away from home or need a dog walker whilst you go to work.
- At home, make sure your garden is secure and fit a bell to the gate so you hear if anyone opens it.
- Don’t leave your dog outside unsupervised
But don’t despair: Wiltshire Police have said that while twenty six attempted dog thefts were reported to them in 2020, only eight dogs were actually stolen.
Go carefully; stay safe.
Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve 