i have just heard on the radio about how many dogs are being stolen each month and think it is just discusting.
i just don't know how people can take a much loved pet away from their family. they are even taking them at knife point.
i also heard about this new thing of the dogs that have been stolen having their microchips taken out with knives and if just makes me feel sick that anyone can do that to such an inocent creature.
i am also begining to feel a bit worried as i have to walk my dogs allone and i get worried that something may happen. don't know what i would do if it happened to me.

anyway rant over.

I was walking my westie only yesterday and a gang on teenage girls tried to take him from  me a knife point.
I told them all to f*ck off and if they wanted my baby boy theyd have to take him. Which in retrospect wasnt the smartest idea.

Anyway, my guss bit 2 of them when they came too close. And then they all ran off.

Id rather die than lose my animals to a theif, my dogs are my life.

My god Lior, that is sick!!! I have no idea what I would have done, but I know that my Chihuahua would scream and bite like crazy if someone he didn't know tried to take him...... at first I was not happy about that (I wanted him to let anyone touch him), but now I'm actually thrilled about it. But I would scream and shout myself if anyone even considered doing something to anyone of my babies !! Over my dead body!!

I have a bulldog and i will never walk him on my own. My partner walks him. I have had a man knock on my door when i have been in on my own asking if i own a Bulldog and if they can come in and see him as they are inquiring about the breed.... I was polite and said i didnt have one luckily my dog was in the back garden at the time and he said well ive seen u walking one, liked he had been watching me.. Creepy..

a co-worker of mine, told me she wont leave her dog... labrador, in the rear garden without having keeping the back door open.  There has been reports in the derbyshire area of people going into the gardens of terrace houses from yard to yard trying to get to dogs.

this is all very worrying, I walk for miles on my own with my dog and I love it, would my dog attack someone that threatened me?  I doubt it. I suspect they might not risk trying to take a 55 kilo gsd but who knows!!!!

lior, your dog can now be put to sleep because it has bitten someone.

Im fully aware of that.
Immediately after the incident I went to the police and made a report, and told them what happened.

They said all was fine unless someone made a complaint as theres no evidence that he bit anyone at all.

My dog was only 13 weeks old at the time, so I think he bit out of fear because this strange person was trying to take him away.

OMG....these storys are terrifying!! :-( I walk Tyson on my own every morning. I have no idea what i'd do if someone ever approached me. :-( I hope it never have to find out.

We always get stopped with our Bulldog normally when someone approaches us he wags his tails and lays on his back for a belly rub... I dont know what he would do it someone attacked me.. Wouldnt like to find out though

ummm some pepper spray is now popular or a lemon squeezy!

My OH takes pepper spray with him...

Oh marmite, we mentioned pepper spray at the same time! I never saw it untill I posted my reply!! ;)

But where do these things happen? In the city, in the park or out on the fields in the country side?? And is pepper spray legal in UK? Because here in Europe it is and I'm seriously considering carrying one.....
I'm also wondering why people steal dogs? With so many abandoned poor animals in the shelters I can't understand why someone would actually consider stealing a dog...... what do they do with them?

Like all crimes Ory, they happen everywhere. Thieves are not fussy where they strike.

Very often, the reason that dogs are stolen is because the thieves can then demand a Ransom from the owner :( "Dognapping". Before returning the dog. In some cases, they never do.

Or in some cases, these dogs are bred from to produce puppies that can be sold. Or the fur trade is another popular reason I read recently :(

But, like all things in life, you take your chance, nothing is risk free. All that we can do, as dog owners is to be extra vigilant and guard them like we do/should our children.

Some people might be in it for the money. I have had quite a few people stop me, ask how much i paid for Tyson etc. I just ignore those sorts of questions....just in case. :-(

People only take things if there is a demand for them. What we need to do is ensure that people do not buy puppies/dogs from suspicious people. However, there are many out there who only want to pay 50 quid for a dog so there will always be a market. The only thing you can do is make your dogs as 'unattractive' as possible. If you have bitches put a tag on them saying they are spayed whether they are or not, or your dog has been vasectomised. Microchip or tattoo them (or both) and if they do go missing make them as 'hot' as possible by spreading the word.
Becky

Or perhaps not walk your dog in dodgey areas?  In a dark park by yourself? 

Agreed but not everyone has a choice although I like the idea of taking pepper spray and may well invest in some myself!
Becky

I think it's best just to stick to those busy places with lots of people and dogs. I'm sure every area has a park where people usually go and walk their dogs. I would also make sure I don't walk my dog alone in the evening or perhaps early mornings when it's still dark......

I only walk my girl during the day. When it is dark or late my partner walks her. She is very striking, and I do get a lot of people who just walk up to me and ask questions about her, which I do sometimes find unnerving. I have had her both microchipped and DNA profiled as an added security, and she is not allowed out in the garden unattended. I real that breeds such as rottweillers, german shepherds etc. are often stolen and shipped to places like Nigeria (via Ireland) to be used as guard dogs. I can honestly not remember where I read this but it scared the hell out of me. Also, there are a number of dogs being stolen who have their stitches still in after being spayed so it isn't only that dogs are being stolen for breeding (whacking out pups from poor bitches and selling them on at £50 - there is always a market no matter how much advice is given by animals charities and rescue centres about where you buy your dogs, because all these popel care about is money). There is also a huge market for dogs to be stolen for the illegal dog fight market, as well as the most 'popular' motivation which is for ransom. It is absolutely bloody dusgusting, and it is also happening with cats (pure breeds such as Siamese, Burmese, Persian, and particularly Bengals). The thing is, it is like car theft or burglary. The more ways you find to protect yourself, the more the criminals work to get around these deterents, and at the end of the day, the best protection is vigilence. Also, make sure you always keep up to date photographs of your dog. I get so sad when I see notices regarding missing dogs, but it isn't a common crime in the scheme of things, but it is worrying all the same.

I walk both of mine alone day or night and i dont give a damn. We dont get dog knapping here.Infact we dont really get anything here,which is a good thing. :)Im not sure if people believe me when i say that my dogs dont bite.Im sure they would though if they thought there was something fishy going on. :)

thats the thing with my vizsla is that everyone asks what she is. i have to say i tell them if they look nice enough or are with children i tell them the truth other wise i say "um shes a bit of everything!!!"
it really scares me tho as i live in london and there is more of everything in london :(
glad other people feel the same as me, it really shocked me this morning hearing about it and the extent that it is happening

We live in Cornwall,the rural part so we dont get alot of trouble.There was a murder about 20 miles away from us.It was a garage robbery that went wrong.That was ages ago.Apart from that we get the weekly exsightment of the reed up of the old peoples bingo prizes and the local jumble sale.Nothing else ever happens and nothing to read about in the local paper either. :)

I regularly walk my dog alone in reasonably solitary places - top of the Downs, for example. And I refuse to buy into a culture of fear although I don't take stupid risks. However, like guiness, I live in a very rural area which, to be honest, is a deal safer than most towns. We do get the occasional "dognapping" and my vet was very pleased when I took Nips to be microchipped because he said he had "stealable" qualities. However, if anyone wants to take their chance with the combined attitude of me and a JRT then they might have an unpleasant shock. 

And while normally being very human friendly, on two occasions Nips hasn't liked something about a stranger - in both cases slightly creepy looking men on the Downs - and in both cases he stuck close to me and told them their fortunes.

As for dognappers I'm afraid there's no point in appealing to their consciences because quite clearly they don't have one.

I always tell people that my entire male has been chemically castrated! Im not even sure thats possible but I doubt if dognappers would be educated enough about dogs to know anyway.

I also tell anyone who takes an unhealthy interest that he has an illness which makes him highly dependant like diabetes or something. Most people wouldnt bother taking him and if they did they would have to take him to the vet for insulin and hes chipped.

Its important not to get too bogged down with these terrible stories. Dont get me wrong they are awful and scary and its important that they are high lited but we must take them in context. I speak from experience as up until a few months ago I was always terrified that he would be taken. I took some advice from someone on here who deals a lot with missing dogs and he/she gave me the above advice. I now just think that I am not prepared to compromise my dogs standard of life because of some horrid people. If you think about it its highly unlikely that most of us will be affected by this awful crime in our lifetimes but that just makes it all the more important to help others that are. There are some great lost dog websites about and some of them you can register as a local helper. They email you a poster when a dog has gone missing locally and you can distribute them in your area to make the dog hot property. Everyone just does their bit in postering, writing to local newspapers and radio stations, dog wardens and police, cross checking websites and generally keeping their eyes peeled.

Maybe if we all do our bit we might be on the path to making this crime difficult enough that eventually these evil people (cause thats what they are ) wont bother!! Iit really winds me up that we cant even take our beloved pets out and about without fear of them being taken. Rant over !!!

i think it could help to put on collar tags that the dogs in on lifelong medication, so anyone considering stealing it will be put off-hopefully!

Register with this site: www.doglost.co.uk
It is free and all you have to do is provide your email address and postcode. When a dog goes missing/is stolen in your area, you are sent aposter, and all you are asked to do is print it up and put it either in your window, in the window of your local shop/vet/supermarket etc. It is not much to ask and when you read some of the accounts from owners on the site who are desperate to find their dogs it is heartbreaking. I know some of these dogs are just lost, or get adopted by people who fid them, but in some cases they are stolen. It is a rare crime at the moment, but without action it could very well grow. I hate to buy into the fear, but in my own area there have been four dogs stolen in a relative short period of time, and that does concern me, particularly being in a rural area.
I have just had a new tag done for my girl with 'I am Microchipped and DNA profiled' (which she is)written on it, as well as the telephone number of Pet Back, who I registered with, as well as my own number, but I have started to tell people who appraoch us that she isn't friendly (she is a shepherd and is very vocal, which can be construed as aggression even though I know it isn't). It is sad not to be able to allow people to meet her, but i have had a man approach me and ask altogether too many questions about her, and she hated him, and acted completely out of character.

Reading all these posts about dogs getting nicked , im so glad i do the job i do (security dog handler)...my dogs can be the softest, most silly dogs in the world..but i know if im out walking them,and someone came up and threatened to take them off of me, any one of them would go into work mode (thank christ) and beleive me the would be napper would have to be totally insane even to think of trying then...its the same in the garden, i always know if somebody is hanging around, coz they all kick off..anyone goes past absoulutely poops their pants even though they are all in a very secure enclosure about 50ft from the outside fence...i thank my lucky stars that unlike some i havent got to keep my eye on them all the time they are out there..my postman always laughs sayin i dont need a doorbell on my back door as the dogs let me know when his around..lol

Keep safe all of u

Nicci

As you are relatively new to the forum you may not be aware that blasphemy is offensive to many members and requests to refrain from same have been made many times.  Could you please adhere to that request.

Thank you, Teri

I can't believe that someone saying Thank Christ is considered offensive. Blimey that really is political correctness gone mad. Where is the right of freedom of speech?
Becky

Freedom of speach does not come into it Becky.  There are TOS governing how the forum is conducted - perhaps you should familiarise yourself with them.  The mainstream members are pretty much on the ball when it comes to self-moderating so as not to offend or upset, however many have expressed offence at blasphemy being used and thankfully most reasonable posters have no desire to intentionally offend anyone ergo it is rarely an issue.

As it happens Nicci and I have corresponded amicably on the subject already so perhaps it would be best left at that ;)

regards, Teri

Teri I have been on this board considerably longer than you have!
Becky

Rejoined have we

Yes, this is my 6th year!!
Becky

How come your profile says you joined on 10.01.06?

I think i would of made the same misstake as Beckyess to be honest.I thank Christ every day for the wonderful family i have and all the people who are dear to me.Looking at it differently,if Beckyess would of meant the phrase as an insult or blasphamy then the word Christ would surely of all been in lower case and lacking a capital letter?maybe?

Guiness, Teri's original (very polite) reply was to Nu77y (who's use of the name was all in lower case, lacking the capital. ;))

But we're told it's all sorted out happily, so we'll all let it alone now. :)

oh,sorry,i didnt read that,just the reply i replied to. :rolleyes:
The generation gap these days means that the young people amongst us have different views about religion.You dont find many practicing religious people around these days.I am a Christian however and a believer and,no dissrespect meant,i turn a blind eye to silly misstakes people make.Lord forgive them for they know not what they do....................:)

Interestingly, my son goes to a CofE school and he has been taught not to blaspheme. He knows what words he is not allowed to say and I think thats a really good thing. Unfortunately, the CofE school my daughter goes to does not ban such language - so there's a bit of an inconsistancy in education - which is where these problems start.

I don't think there is anything wrong with thanking God in the right context... :) better that than the "Oh MY G...." phrase that seems to be banded about loudly at every available opportunity :rolleyes:

Believe it, Beckyess.

I don't understand why people continue to argue and create when all we ask is a bit of consideration for others feelings??:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Argue? Whos arguing?I am not. I was trying to add a bit of justification to a potentially bad situation.:) Im not being malicious or undermining anyone,just looking at a discussion from both sides and trying to come up with a happy medium.Religion is a personal thing,some have it and some dont.For those that do good on ya,and for those that dont dont mock what you have no comprehention of. :)

Errmm Guiness...did I say you???? I was just venting a bit of frustration as I have been drawn into an arguement before on this subject! When I politely asked someone not to blaspheme as it upset me...being one of those that DOES do 'religion'(whatever religion is??!! I personally have a real relationship with God, but hate to be called 'religious'!! People 'DO' things religiously after all! :D) I wasn't calling you...just stating a frustrated opinion on whether people were considerate when they argued the pro's and con's of etiquette! Sorry if you thought I was having a go at you, I certainly wasn't!

Thats ok NF :) No harm done there.I dont know why people argue about religion but its known to be the main reason for alot of wars in alot of countries. :) It just got to me that you could be a beliver yet ridicule another persons beliefs by making a mockery of it.I have many,many friends that are JWs and i really respect them for their beliefs.After all when do you see a vicar on your doorstep spreading the word as the bible states you should? Horses for corses i say but i would rethink on the situation that if you want respect concerning your beliefs then please respect the beliefs of others too. :)

Quote joke by NF......So this bloke says to me, "Can I come in your house and talk about
your carpets?". I thought "That's all I need, a Je-oover's witness".
Say no more eh?

Actually you're right Guiness, I bow to your superior intellect and intelligence...I DON'T like JW as they are seen as a cult by the 'Christian' fraternity...and I copied and pasted before reading thoroughly or thinking clearly...be sure you sins will find you out Newfie!!! (Newfie went back under the stone from which she crawled and promises not to post any more on CD!):rolleyes:

Please dont resort to petty insults here.I see no smilie on the end of your post which to me means an insult.I personally do not like those who choose to judge a person because they dont fit into a certain catagory that is agreeable to their own criteria.Judge not lest three be judged also.There is but one judge on this earth.........................can you guess who?

Well I certainly wasn't going to be drawn into posting on this subject but as someone has just insulted my Dad I think I should say something. 
For a Christian to lump people together and say they don't like them just for the sake of their beliefs is, according to the Christian bible,  totally against their religion.  My Dad is JW and now it's my turn to ask that they are not mentioned in a negative way as it offends me. 
What's good for the goose is good for the gander ;)

Thank you

Debs

Sorry - it isn't political correctness - it IS offensive to many people!

Freedom of speech is one thing.   Freedom to read good English without blasphemy (which, if you look up the correct definition in OED) is what has been commented up is also a right.

Margot