The police have reported a genuine code being used by dognappers. As this has come from police it's worth being aware.

I am not sure who would pay £2000 for an adult dog when they could easily get one for a lot less, there are very few dogs, pedigree or not, that would fetch that sort of money particularly as an adult.

> I am not sure who would pay £2000 for an adult dog

That struck me as odd too.

This one has really confused me, because there are plenty of people who are saying this has proved to be a scam and not true at all, something that originated in Australia. But I cannot find anywhere at all that says it is a scam. Nothing on Snopes for instance despite people saying it's been on there. So is it a scam saying it's a scam? (Did you get that? LOL!)

There's a big black market for gundog breeds, apparently.

Is all this such an epidemic or just INCREDIBLY well publicised on social media?

Before Facebook we would be blissfully unaware of stolen dogs so would not be so tuned in to the thefts that are happening.
Seeing it posted and reported repeatedly can make something seem an enormous problem.
Police are reporting a 17% increase in dog thefts, perhaps the result of telling the little towrags .that older dogs, peekaboos , juggles or whatever they are called,are worth £2000. Newspapers constantly referring to litters of pups  "worth £1500 each"...make lots of little minds whirrr.

Chicken and egg comes to mind..and now perhaps a sudden proliferation of Ks written everywhere!

This particular one wasn't found on FB but was in the newspaper. It's not on Snopes or anywhere else that I can find.

I saw that but don't you get that sinking feeling ...when you just KNOW that the little ner'do wells read these things..if they can....and the £ signs spin around in their eyes like a one armed bandit?

Had a look at the link and this bit surprised me .two adult akitas and this was the second litter he has reared, with each puppy worth about £450 - or perhaps it didn't when you think more about it :-( Just seems very cheap for an Akita from a good breeder!

Who said he was good breeder?

What I meant to say was
that would be very cheap for an Akita if he was a good breeder
And I cannot imagine having 2 adults to look after and also 4 x 11 week pups that need basic training and mega socialising all running about

< There's a big black market for gundog breeds, apparently

Trained gundogs have always been a target for thieves due to their value.  This year has seen quite a number of thefts.

Goldmali I have also read plenty on websites that say it's not true. Now I shouln't be sceptical but wondering if certain police areas haven't amd people are putting paint etc on their walls as someone was in a paper saying it had happened to her although her dogsweren't stolen. Would a thief really put something so public for all to see and cime back later?

There are also rumors of different coloured stickies being put on peoples front gates for the same reason.

There have been a number of dog thefts over the last few months in the area I live, some from when people are out on walks, some from peoples gardens. It is thought some people have been followed home.

A lot of them have been gundog breeds but not necessarily trained to work.

> There are also rumors of different coloured stickies being put on peoples front gates

The business of people delivering 'junk mail', and marking the pavements to show which streets/areas they have covered, is true - I clearly remember this when I was a child :) It may just be something similar :) I can't see any reason why a 'criminal' would so prominently mark a house ?? Seems illogical :) :)

> There are also rumors of different coloured stickies being put on peoples front gates for the same reason.

This is the hoax that's been going around that originated in Australia.

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/perth-dog-fighting-ring-hoax.shtml

Other police in this country have said it's a hoax.  Very strange that there have been a couple of newspaper articles now.....  Also the guy mentioned states that none of his dogs have been stolen!

Wonder if the papers picked it up from online sources without checking too thoroughly and got a slightly less than spcific quote formt he police about increased dog thefts?

I emailed Staffordshire police and they have confirmed it is a hoax