Warning, shared

THE RSPCA has urged dog owners to be vigilant after claims that bogus officers were targeting dogs to steal.
In this week’s DOG WORLD breed notes Bull Terrier breed note writer Linda McGregor includes the following report from Linda Bland: "A friend’s son was alone in the house in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, when two women, supposedly RSPCA officers, called.
"They said they had received a complaint and wanted to gain access to see the dogs. The son refused and told them to call back when his parents were home.
"On checking with the RSPCA, the dog owners were told that they had no record of the visit, no card was left and that they should contact the police immediately.
"The police informed them that they had had other incidents and that this was a scam to gain access and steal pets either for sale or ransom. The suspects had a white van with a small RSPCA sign on the side.”
In such reports, it is believed that the thieves were on the lookout for dogs in the Hertfordshire, Cambridge and Essex areas.
The RSPCA responded to the claim urging owners to be aware of such incidents and to contact the police at the first instance.
A spokesperson for the RSPCA said that the charity had not heard of this happening but anyone concerned should ask for identification.
They said: "The RSPCA is always extremely concerned to hear about incidents like this and we want to reassure people that RSPCA inspectors will always be in uniform and carry official ID cards proving their identity.
"If the animal owner isn’t in, they will leave a card with their name and collar number asking the owner to contact them via our national control centre. Our officers’ vans are white but they carry the official RSPCA logo on the sides and back.
"Anyone who has suspicions about a caller at their door who cannot provide ID is urged not allow access to their property or animals and to contact the police.
"RSPCA inspectors have no power of entry, so people don’t have to give access to anyone they are suspicious of.”

very scary thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing that - I'd have seen it in the paper tomorrow, but it's good to get the heads up early!

jees .. they will try allsorts these days

I saw something on fb about it. Scary

I saw this on Bruce Forsyths "Get Scanning" page. So very scary and sad

Thanks for sharing!!

have seen this too but best to post wide and far. its the reward money that they are after...scumbags it should be classed as kidnapping as if it was a family child as to which for most of us it is.

Thank you for the warning Kelly - first I've heard of this. Yet another scary thing we have to look out for to protect our fur-babies.

That's scary, thanks for sharing the warning

Unless the police were at my door with a warrant, then no one comes in. Scumbags. People like this need a good hiding!

People really will do the lowest of things. Have heard similar to this before, good to let others know though - knoledge of it will help to stop it happening .. thanks for sharing

Some sick people around

So scary! Thanks for sharing this, good to get the word around.

There really are some low life scum around, be careful out there boys and girls.

Thanks for sharing

Thank you for sharing this I live in Essex , hope you don't mind but have copied this info & going to put it on Facebook as I have lots of friends with dogs dotted around the country xxx

So glad it is being reported. Stay safe out there.

Good share... thanks