Would you pay the ransom???

Oneofthepack

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Those who live in the west country might be aware of the problem with dog theft, particularly of lurchers round the Bristol area. I have been involved in trying to get a dog back for a couple who had their lurcher stolen from outside a shop on 25th September. Luckily the lovely Buddy has been returned home but not before a £750 ransom was paid. The police, who were so uninterested initially that they wouldn't even release CCTV footage of the suspected thief, are now criticising the owners for paying the ransom as they say it makes catching the thieves harder and encourages the crime, and that owners should call them if a demand is made.

My question is what would you all do faced with the prospect of either a] paying the money,getting your dog back but encourage more thefts by making it profitable or b] risk not getting him back by contacting the police
 
I would pay but i agree that it does not help the police becasue it just reinforces the reason that sh*ts are doing this - we love our dog- they know it so know they will get the money !!!!!! I would pay any day because my dogs really are our life, we show them breed them, love them etc and my life has always involved them

I really think that if people do not chain their dogs out shops, thefts would be decreased
 
My dogs never get out of my sight...Im obsessed with the tying up outside of the shop milarky...and tell everyone adopts our dogs...never ever to do this...I also have some nifty ways of making sure if my dogs where knicked...they are returned pretty quick...its worked so far with a few other dogs...not mine cos ive never lost one or had one stolen.
But I must admit I would be besides myself if this happened...and would give whatever it took to get the dog back...but it does encourage the process
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Thats terrible and I am sure a lot of families would be hard pressed to find the £750.

I am afraid I lose the moral dilemma and would pay up for my own selfish reasons and the love of my dogs. If I was in that situation I would never be able to tell the children that I wouldn't pay for one of the dogs to help prevent it happening to other people because they would only sell the dog on and get some money anyway and I can't see my refusal stopping them trying it again.

ETS: Its not just tying up outside shops, working dogs have been stolen from their locked kennels here recently. One gamekeeper lost three dogs on three separate occasions over a period of months.
 
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Thats terrible and I am sure a lot of families would be hard pressed to find the £750.

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It was all their holiday savings but yes youre right...it's money not many of us could find quickly. It grieves me to think of the scum that stole him sitting in the pub pissed on ransom money and laughing at their deed. What goes around comes around, I hope.

I believe the police are taking it more seriously now as it's obviously really big business, and even if they don't demand a ranson they still buy/sell and breed with our stolen dogs and that's without even mentioning the animal cruelty involved. Poor Buddy had lost over 10 lbs in 7 weeks,his feet were raw and his legs were all cut up Did anyone see Dave and Mareth on GMTV this morning? Anyone who did will have noticed Buddy curled up between them on the sofa getting 7 weeks worth of cuddles all at once!
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I was told by a breeder that one of her dogs was stolen whilst ou walking it, she tried to find it for ages and was told that there is a market near by and you can find what ever dog you wanted and that was probs where her dog was taken, it is obvi very dangerous and dodgy; she never found her dog but i hope she is safe.
 
I would definitely pay it. I agree that it does encourage the thieves to continue but if the police weren't going to get my dog back for me and I could by paying the ransom then thats what I'd do.
 
I totally agree with the police's stance on this however there is no question about it; I would pay the ransom for my dogsl then I'd try to find out who did it and have them dealt with.
 
Think this story was on GMTV this morning, only caught the tail end of it (sorry no pun intended there) but it was about a couple paying a ransom for a gorgeous lurcher called Buddy.
 
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Think this story was on GMTV this morning, only caught the tail end of it (sorry no pun intended there) but it was about a couple paying a ransom for a gorgeous lurcher called Buddy.

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Yeah that was them!
 
Much as I'd hate to play into the hands of the thieving sh1ts, I'd pay anything, my dogs mean the world to me.

As a DogLost helper and member of the sighthound forums I did lots of emailing and postering for Buddy, as did hundreds of others. I think the police have got a bloody cheek whinging on about paying the ransom making their job harder....if they'd got their finger out and publicised the CCTV footage sooner, it may not have come to that.
IMO, the police don't take lost or stolen dogs seriously enough..... a dog is a living creature and a loved family member, not just a piece of lost 'property'
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Sooo glad Dave and Mareth have finally got Buddy home where he belongs.
 
id pay anything to get my dog back.
yes it is more then likely giving them reason to repeat the crime but i would do anything for any of my animals.
 
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