Beware attempted dog theft.

[k9h]

Have copied this from another forum as think we should all be on guard especially if you are in that area.

Dear all

I am still very shaken up by what happened this afternoon, and I want to warn everyone who walks their dogs.

Hershey and I were walking on Blackdown (local common) on a lower path that walks through the woods and not so many people use. I saw ahead a lady who instantly started trying to call Hershey to her which I thought nothing of. As I passed her she was still trying to get Hershey to come to her, but I passed her with Hershey behind me. As I passed her a man came out of the bushes carrying a stick, and I exchanged a couple of words with him, again thinking nothing. About 3 steps on I realised Hershey wasn’t with me, I turned and the girl and Hershey had disappeared and all I could see was the man sprinting away along the path. I blew my dog whistle and started sprinting in their direction. I heard Hershey yelp. I ran like I’ve never run before, and eventually caught up with them and Hershey. He’d obviously got away from them and wouldn’t go any where near them, I had to grab him to get him past them. She was laughing saying how fast he could run. I didn’t say anything as I was so shocked and felt completely vulnerable not being on the main path and being 2 of them. They had covered so much ground in such a short space of time if I hadn’t run after them I think I wouldn’t have seen him again.

Analysing how they did it I now know to be really careful. I passed her with Hershey behind me, and the man distracted me as she must have grabbed Hershey. (I assume that due to the yelp and the fact that he has never run away from me). Then as soon as I’d passed him he sprinted too.

For those of you in Haslemere: they were late 30’s and both had dark hair. He had a goaty.

Please warn others and be really aware that if you pass someone make sure your dog is in your sight and in front of you.

My tummy muscles ache now as I’ve not put that much effort into running ever before!

I’m really upset by what happened and so shocked by how quickly it occurred. I am going to stick to more open paths from now on. (and not wear wellys!)

 

[k9h]

Have just heard on the grapevine there has been a second attempted theft, same MO, in Elstead this time. Seems to be the same couple ~ similar description from the dog owner.......
Be aware of where your dogs are all the time! I know most of you are.........

 

[prose]

Bloody audacity of these people

I never let Stella out of my sight when we're walking. And again, I'm reminded of why it's a good thing I carry pepper spray on our walks (very legal over this way).

Poor woman. Thank god Hersey was responsive to the whistle.

 

[Zoobie]

Thats shocking, I wonder if there was a "type" of dog they were after. There was a spate of att theft's last year near to me ( farthing downs ).

 

[blackcob]

Shocking, I would be terrified in that situation especially out in the woods alone.

Reminds me of a few weeks ago when there was a man standing outside our local paper shop with a lovely lab, he asked me if I wouldn't mind buying him the evening paper as he didn't want to leave the dog tied up outside while he went in; his sister had done a similar thing years ago and her dog was stolen from outside the shop

Out of interest were the dogs involved any specific breed or type?

 

[Petrie]

I did see a top ten most popular breeds to be stolen a while ago, and all I can remember is that Staffie's were number one, terriers were 2 or 3, labradors were 4, and springer spaniels were up there somewhere too.

I have also been told that if you spay or castrate your dog, there is less chance of them being stolen as the pikies want them for breeding. Someone I know of had two springers stolen out on a walk, and the one that had been spayed was dumped shortly after (presumably after they'd spotted the scar) but they made off with the entire one.

I also read that the most common place for dogs to be stolen is from outside shops, so don't ever tie them up to a lampost.

It is one of the cruellest, most upsetting things I can think of, and just fuels my hatred of pikies even more.

And before any of you PC folk start berating me for being fascist about pikies, I don't give a shxit, so don't bother. They are scum.