White van men!

was outside about an hour ago with tia and a copper came from co-op which is opposite my house, and came over and asked if Tia was a staffordshire bull terrier, I replied yes and he told me to be careful with her as their has been reports around my area of men in white vans taking dogs from gardens, even a report with from a woman that was out walking her dog, they are using them as bait for dog fighting! Makes me feel sick to the stomach to know there is cruel cruel people like that in this world! not safe to leave your dog play outside without panicking that she could be snatched really nice of the police man to tell me, if i see any suspicious men in vans and got to ring the police and try to get the number plate if possible. im gonna be a wreck panicking taking her out for a walk and letting her out now! everyone be careful, could happen anywhere.

I am really scared about this sort of thing .... I am going to tell people that Holly is a mixed breed . I am hoping it would put off anyone stealing for fighting or to sell on

Try not to worry, just be extra vigilant Xx

least he came and let you know, id just be on your guard. Its horrible that this happens, try walk with others, dont go on quite roads on night time walk etc
keep both of you safe

Unfortunately they were right. Just be extra careful and never go anywhere on your own where you could get into trouble.

Horrible people, but it is getting more and more common.

i make sure im not followed home as its getting quite bad around the M25 area these days. good place to pre register in case the worst happens http://www.doglost.co.uk/

im sure to keep her safe, over my dead body is anyone getting their hands on my baby girl! im only gonna go out with my friend and her dog, im sure with two of us we will be ok, horrible to think it can happen though, what is this world coming to

Unfortunately it's easy money, and because of the current economic climate it's rising even more

I know, it's horrible just be careful.

It's terrible and happening everywhere Just be careful and keep your eyes open while walking.. These people make me sick

This is something that worries me a lot too, as it's just mainly me that walks Rocky now as my hubby is waiting to have an operation on his knee. We unfortunately live in a very bad area too with some highly undesirables around here, I would not put anything past any of them.

Luckily however, I can get in the car and get away from the place for a couple of hours with Rocky to another area with a country park where we have a lovely walk. Always have to remain vigilant though even there, saw some undesirables there the other day too, I cannot completely get away from them.

Jo and Jenny only ever walk the dogs through daytime and in relatively well populated places "street walking" people be careful out there

Locally to me (30mins away) staffys have been taken by knife point.

I've bought myself a 'rape alarm keyring' I keep in my pocket... Ready to click that button if anyone come near me or my dogs !

Jackieb wrote:I've bought myself a 'rape alarm keyring' I keep in my pocket... Ready to click that button if anyone come near me or my dogs !

Good idea. There's a wee old doll that walks were I walk most days that uses one of those. Better safe than sorry.

bloomin eck, some scrote was looking unsavourably at my tash the other day

When i walked Cassie this morning one of those many rag and bone men in a van went past he just stared at me and a lot longer at Cassie, it scared me a lot and we hurried home. It made me wonder what do i do if someone tries to take Cassie? Do i can i fight back or do i just let go of her? I kept checking he hadn't followed me home, it is such a shame to be so scared, i couldnt cope now if i lost her or she was taken

it is something that happens in a lot of areas unfortunately

Seeing as our joke of a government has banned CS gas or anything similar of the sort to protect yourself, my advice would be to get a small spray bottle, pop some vinegar/chilli or something like that in it and keep it with you on your walks, just as a last resort, better to have it than not.

We've had the looks... the van that drives round the local estate 2-3 times... I carry a pet corrector spray or body spray can in my pocket...Just in case "He was to get in to an incident or mis-behaved??" Handy to separate and get animals to back off if you get my drift. Hope everyone stays safe.

kelpie wrote:We've had the looks... the van that drives round the local estate 2-3 times... I carry a pet corrector spray or body spray can in my pocket...Just in case "He was to get in to an incident or mis-behaved??" Handy to separate and get animals to back off if you get my drift. Hope everyone stays safe.

I like your thinking, Going to invest in some spray!

When strange parties ask me, I have been telling them that she is fixed, a mixed breed and also has some sort of medical ailment like diabetes and that my vet bills are high. I have recently only begun walking her out of my yard and around the neighborhood, at like 6am, still warey of who is watching I guess. If someone steals my pup, I'd hate to have to use this machete by my bed.....

Loving the spray idea! I'm defo going to be doing that from now on. My dog is only 6 months and twice already i have had 'incidents' that have made me worry about her getting stolen. Once was a good few months ago and the other only a few weeks back.....two men in a van went up a dead end street and just sat there parked as i walked her in the ad joining big park....this was after they had passed me on my way to the park. I got out my fone tho and pretended i was talking away to someone.....they drove away. Maybe perfectly innocent but you can't be too sure nowadays sadly

When people ask what she is I just say shes a mongrel (which in all honesty she is) but say i dont know what shes crossed with. If it was anyone who i thought was dodgy i would also include that she costs me a fortune as she has a serious medical condition and needs regular trips to the vets. Horrible to have to make up lies abut your dog like that but I would if need be!!

In the last few weeks, i have been thinking about getting myself an ASP baton for a little bit of concealed protection. just the thought of the thefts just make me so uneasy.

Spray got me thinking, just found this on Amazon, quite cheap too:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mini-Defence-Spray-Criminal-Identifier/dp/B006K3GNAC

Is personal protection spray legal?

MatLogan wrote:Is personal protection spray legal?

The UK legal equivalent of Mace/Pepper Spray. 100% UK Legal! From amazon website

MatLogan wrote:Is personal protection spray legal?

where i am from, nothing is legal, no brass knuckles, batons, spray which is all so sad.

Didn't know that! Good find Kathy. Anyone walking on their own should buy that

jojobda wrote:where i am from, nothing is legal, no brass knuckles, batons, spray which is all so sad.

Knucks and batons are illegal over here too. Nothing illegal about a walking stick though

When my Dad used to walk the dogs he would have carried a blackthorn stick.

Thanks for the link Kathy. I'm gonna get one ordered

Also considering one for myself

I purchased one of these in the past, all it does is stain the attackers face/clothes, doesn't do anything to stop them or make them pause. I personally wouldn't get this because it's not as effective as carrying something like chilli/vinegar in a spray bottle, which when you spray towards the direction of their face, its sure to give you a few moments to get away, doesn't matter how big and scary you are, if chilli or vinegar (better yet, both) is in your eyes, it's going to hurt.

anyone from manchester/tameside area, it is happening here. Tameside animal shelter have posted about a friend of theirs from Oldham having their dog taken from someone in a white transit. I can't believe this is happening. If I ever caught these people, I would seriously do time. Feel so sorry for the owners and their baby.

This one is legal in UK, it's not pepper spray. It's probably more of an irritant and it stains the skin and clothes. Personally I'll stick with my cosh...nothing that a smash on the skull can't sort out.

Bloomooner wrote:This one is legal in UK, it's not pepper spray. It's probably more of an irritant and it stains the skin and clothes. Personally I'll stick with my cosh...nothing that a smash on the skull can't sort out.

Good call lol, i used to have one but lost it, trying to get another one is turning out to be a pain in the a*se!

i have this concentrated chili extract in my cupboard.
i like hot foods but this stuff is lethal. the tiniest taste of it has my eyes streaming. i dare say if i stirred a teaspoon of it into a spray bottle of vinegar id be able to blind someone lol.
reckon i'll be taking that on walks with me.

goldie87 wrote:

Bloomooner wrote:This one is legal in UK, it's not pepper spray. It's probably more of an irritant and it stains the skin and clothes. Personally I'll stick with my cosh...nothing that a smash on the skull can't sort out.

Good call lol, i used to have one but lost it, trying to get another one is turning out to be a pain in the a*se!

Same here. Been after one for a while.

Apparently there is a red van going round cheshire and Greater Manchester. Two men stealing dogs out of gardens. I had a couple of blokes looking through the fence at my dogs. It was about 11pm. I got my bf to go out with his baseball bat and they soon disappeared!

Jazsmama wrote:Apparently there is a red van going round cheshire and Greater Manchester. Two men stealing dogs out of gardens. I had a couple of blokes looking through the fence at my dogs. It was about 11pm. I got my bf to go out with his baseball bat and they soon disappeared!

Whereabouts in Manchester was this? Just so I know

Mike, I know of one in Oldham and one in Hyde this week. Both white transit.

Mattylee wrote:Mike, I know of one in Oldham and one in Hyde this week. Both white transit.

Cheers Matty. Just hope for their sake they don't even think about trying to get a grip of my Tommy, think they'll be on soup and ice cream for 6 weeks with a wired up jaw.