Cross posted please pass on because it could be nationwide

I don't think anyone on this list is in SW London but if you do know people that are who have dogs please can you pass this message on.  There is a high alert in South West London, two men with Irish accents are going around with clipboards and a white van pretending to carry out a pet food survey.  They are knocking on doors to ask questions, making a big fuss of the dogs, before asking the dog's name.  The guy outside then calls the dog out and then tries to bundle it into the van.  They have made 4 failed attempts today, the last being a Great Dane who bit so one of the men is injured.

Lets hope they have given up then. Imagine trying to bundle a Great Dane into a van - they are not a breed that trusts someone in 5 minutes! lets hope that GD bit REAL HARD

They are a well known pair, and have come round my way on an almost regular basis for several years. However nobody seems to be able to find them and get the police to check them out. A van registration would be helpful so it could be posted on all message boards.
They are not the only ones operating in the South East, another pair operate by watching comings and goings from a blue range rover, and people are advised to be aware they should not be approached.
There are groups of people who are concerned about dog thefts, one such is dog lost and the k9-999@yahoogroups.com On the latter site they give out the registration of the blue range rover. These characters were last spotted in the Didcot / Wantage area.

Thanks Carolyn. A friend of mine made me aware of this this morning, as I live in the South East, and I have passed this info on to other 'dog owning' friends.

I'm in SW London - do you know whereabouts they are operating?

I cant beleive I am reading this, I know of someone round the corner from me who has lost a GSD Bitch only about 10 months old I think, I live near Didcot, So thats a bit worrying, The usual places have been contacted the RSPCA the local dog warden all the local vets etc, but no one has heard any thing, she has been missing about a week now I think. They think she may have jumpthe garden fence. these web sites you mentioned are they worth a look?
Kayl

Yes they are worth a look at. On the yahoogroups one it has the registration of the blue vehicle. They were last seen in the Didcot, Wantage area about a week ago.

I wonder if these people in this blue vehicle have the missing GSD, nobody's seen or heard anything about the dog since shes been missing.
This is going to sound like a stupid question but why do they want to steal dogs?
Kayl

For resale. ransom, dog fighting, fur trade etc etc etc

Various reasons... all ending up in one word money! Some are stolen usually by kids or "travellers", for ransom although these are few and far between. There are thefts by more organised criminals, these people take dogs and cats for resale or the fur trade, these pets are exported to the continent. The latter reason for these thefts, the fur trade, is quite big at the moment since pop stars are wanting to wear fur again. Dogs used in any form of sport or working are prized for resale, to homes where they will be worked. Animals failing in this are usually cast aside mostly dumped locally, or killed, or if very lucky taken to a good rescue. Afriend on holiday found a visla which had been turned out to fend for itself. He brought it back to England and now it works on our little shoot. A GSD is a guarding breed, so would be a popular choice for householders who would not ask questions as to where it came from.

Just a point GSD's are a Shepherding breed hence their name GermanShepherd Dog, they may be used for guarding because of their tractability & intelligence. The Guarding breeds are Dobermann, Rottweiler, Mastiff breeds etc which are found in the Working Group, GSDs are a Pastoral breed

GSDs on the whole are stolen for resale or skins sadly

my god thats awful!!!
I am shocked that the fur trade is still going on, in this country anyway!
I didn't realise I was quite so neive about these things, I'm not usually neive but I must admit I am shocked about that!
I kind of had a feeling that one of the reasons would be for resale, but what about the dogs papers? I can't quite work out how they manage to get away with it, the people who recieve the dogs must know they are stolen, they obivously are not bothered.

Hi Kayl,

I know it's shocking but unfortunately, particularly at this time of year, you have to be VERY vigilant that small toys, ornaments, trinkets, fashion accessories etc - particularly those traded at large markets or small back street shops - don't have anything appearing to be *furry* on them.  The sad - no, more EVIL - fact is that in all likeliehood it will be real fur and more often than not from domestic dogs and cats

Illegal tho' it is for these specific animal pelts to be traded, there is a huge market for fur - most people think of it only as coats, gloves, hats, etc.  but it's the lesser items and in particular childrens' toys, where the most unsavoury side of this trade is really thriving and of course most members of the public are genuinely unaware of it.  I have a web address somewhere (can't find the disk at present) which details what to look out for and unfortunately has some unbelievably horrific photos of various types of cats, GSDS, Goldies etc in Korea - where it is illegal but openly practiced - but also advises of European countries where stealing of domestic animals is rife for the same reasons

Teri 

Papers for dogs simple use the Dog Lovers Registration Club who will register any dog or use forged papers In thiis day & age photocopiers & printers can easily reproduce KC papers good enough to fool the public,not many people have their own microfhip scanners, but they can see tattoo marks, as some thieves who stole some GSD puppies found when the police set them up The puppies were being touted round pubs etc & an off duty officer saw that the puppies were tattooed, pretended he was interested so he could get a look at the tattooes They told the thieves he needed to ting his wife & contacted his station as the dogs had been reported stolen & the local press covered the story & the tattoo numbers & the thieves were caughy red handed & "bang to rights"