Dog Theft Awareness

A young lady I know who follows my Chester Lifestyle website on a regular basis also happens to be an animal lover. As are so many of us. Me for instance. I work from home and even though I have a bit of a moan and a groan now and then about the constant attention seeking and demands for a fuss, food, treats etc, deep down I wouldn’t have it any other way. Our four moggies, family members mean the world to us. Even as I type, one of them is sat at the side of my laptop. Say “hello” Connie. Cats or dogs, or hamsters, or goldfish, or whatever pet, they mean the world to us. So, let’s take a close look at this dog theft awareness information. And let’s act accordingly.

The young lady follower I mentioned above added a post to her Facebook page about dog theft awareness with a very useful, small poster.

Dog Theft Awareness

Hopefully you can read the points in the image above. In addition to taking note of the messages in the image above, have a look at this dog theft awareness related article below. Last August there were major concerns about dog thefts in the Chester area. Although dog theft awareness is a national issue, it is local to Chester as well of course.

Our regular contributor, John from Blacon, wrote this very useful message on the local “Next Door Neighbourhood” forum last August. Have a read, it is an excellent article and should make us all so well better versed in dog theft awareness.

Dog Theft Awareness – John’s Article

“How are dogs being stolen
There are a number of tactics dog thieves use, so knowing how they work will help keep your pets safe.

From a back garden. If you have a low fence near a road and leave your dog unattended, there’s a chance they might become a victim. Don’t assume your garden is safe – the Pet Census revealed that up to 52% of dogs are taken from gardens.

From a car. A dog left in a car is not only at risk of being stolen, but may also suffer heatstroke and possibly death. We recommend you never leave an animal unattended in a car.

Dogs left tied in front of businesses and shops. Leaving an animal alone in a public place will increase the chance of it being taken. Without protection, dogs are sitting targets, and if approached with kindness are likely to go along with the stranger because of their friendly nature.

In the park when they’re out of sight. In a busy park it’s easy to lose sight of your dog, even if only for a moment. This makes parks prime spots for thieves looking to take advantage of the confusion. Keep an eye on your dog at all times.

Preventing your dog from being stolen

In addition to knowing how thieves operate, there are things you can do to make it harder for them to target your dog.

Be wary of strangers that ask too many questions. It’s nice to receive compliments about your dog from strangers, however, if they start asking for personal information be cautious.

Vary your walking patterns. Walking your dog in the same place at the same time every day creates a pattern for thieves to track and plan around. Variety is the key here.

Microchip your dog. Laws introduced in April of 2016 state that all dogs over the age of 8 weeks have to be microchipped. Although this won’t prevent your dog from being stolen, it will help identify your dog if it’s found.

Dog Theft Awareness – Anti-Theft Technology

New technology is being created every year in the fight against dog thieves. From cameras to location trackers, there’s a range of equipment which could help protect your dog.

GPS Pet Trackers. These have the advantage of letting an owner know where their pet is in real time. A tracker can be expensive, but could provide vital location information of your dog. The downside is that these wearable devices can be easily removed by the thief. Don’t get a GPS tracker confused with the pet identification microchip, which doesn’t offer any form of location tracking.

HD outdoor cameras. Small but powerful, HD cameras are handy to use in your garden if you’re worried about threats. They can provide a constant video stream to your house, letting you know what’s going on at all times.

Home security system. A home security system can be used to keep you, your family and your dog safe. Opt for a security system which is pet-friendly, meaning it won’t be set off by your dog. These systems are generally only suitable for small dogs. If you have a big dog, you may need to seek help from a professional home security installer.

Dog Theft Awareness – What To Do If Your Dog Is Stolen Or Lost

If your dog is stolen, there are things you can do to find them. PawSquad, who offer 24/7 online access to a qualified vet, suggest the following top steps:

Immediately report a missing dog to the microchip databases Petlog, PETtrac and Identibase. They’ll be able to notify you when your pet is found.

If you believe your dog has been stolen, report the crime to the police and ask for a crime reference number. This will make it easier to find out about the precise nature of their investigation.

Put up posters in the local area. Familiarising the neighbourhood with your dog will make it more likely to be found by a stranger.
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Register your missing pet on a dedicated website, such as Animal Search UK. Again, this will make it easier for members of the public to find and help return your dog.

Post on social media to raise awareness, especially any local community groups that can share your post and help spread the news.

Retrace your steps if your dog went missing during a walk. You may stumble across clues as to where they might have headed.

Be sure to search common hiding places, surrounding gardens and the local neighbourhood. Ask anyone you see about your dog.

Check with the council. The government has a handy feature which allows you to search for missing dogs.“

A great article John. And thanks to Kathy as well for allowing me to use the image she posted onto her Facebook page. Much appreciated.

We All Love Our Pets

We all love our pets don’t we. They are our furry, or scaley, or bald etc, family members. During these difficult Covid lockdown times, they have no doubt been an added comfort. Or, a much appreciated, welcome support to our more difficult moments.

I’ll have to finish this article soon as his Lord and Master, Morrissey (our first and eldest cat) has just announced he wants feeding. Yes, Morrissey, I’m on my way!!! No doubt, the other three will come running now as well.

Take care one and all and stay safe.

Chester Lifestyle Pets Corner

Another addition to my “Pets Corner” blog category. To see all of my other posts in this category, have a look over HERE.

Chester Lifestyle Blog Posts

To see all of my other blog posts here on Chester Lifestyle, on a variety of topics, you will need to pop over to HERE.

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