Prevent Further Dog Thefts - be proactive today not tomorrow

dogs You may be aware that there have been a number of dog thefts in the area. One of these terrible and heart breaking thefts was of two beautiful spaniels owned by the Mcgregors in Amulree. In this case following a very intensive media campaign the dogs were located down in England and have been returned. So a happy ending in the case – however please do everything you can to keep your dog safe from thieves.
Gill Mcgrego offers us the following good advice. Please take it!
Be proactive Now, Today not tomorrow.
1. Check your garden boundaries and ensure it is escape proof and heighten your fences.
2. Invest in good quality cctv cameras. These can now be linked to your phone so if you are at the shops you can still keep an eye on your property.
3. Alarm beams can be placed at the start of your driveway so you know of a vehicle approaching before they reach your cameras.
4. Book Dog Training classes. Sharpen up on that recall.
5. Have your dog’s identichip scanned at your vets and double check they have all your correct phone numbers.
6. Check with your identichip company (there isn’t just the one company but fourteen) that they have your up to date phone numbers.
7. On the dog’s identification disc on his collar Do Not put their name just your surname and phone numbers and your address with postcode.
8. You could teach your dog to come back to you using a whistle instead of their name.
8. Don’t leave your dog unattended such as in the car or tied up outside the shops or the school gates.
9. Keep your holiday dates private.
10. When you meet people on a walk you don’t need to tell them your dog’s real name nor their age etc.
11. Be neighbourly. Join a neighbourhood watch or farm watch programme. Keep an eye out for suspicious vehicles. Swapping information amongst yourselves you may see a pattern emerge.
12. If you are due a delivery bring your dog in from the garden and keep them out of sight.
13. Get your dog spayed or neutered.
14. Make a dog folder that you can easily and quickly access.
15. Take photos of yourself with your dog. Take photos of him from different angles.
A good idea is to take before and after photos of your dog when they go to the dog groomers. Some dogs look very different with long hair with their markings and colours muted. In this folder put the identichip number, dog warden phone number, local dog pound phone number. The main rescue sites on social media. Etc 15. Check your property and verges for markers. These can vary from tie wraps on posts or street signs to white stones, ribbon, sticks appearing, pieces of slate, pieces of slate with chalk on it etc.
16. Don’t stick to a set routine each day, vary the time of your dog walks, the place and length of your walk. Let someone in your family know your route. Or start a walking group in your neighbourhood.
17. Don’t walk with music playing in both ears or head down texting on your phone.
18. Keep a close eye on your dog throughout the walk.
We live in such a lovely area with great dog walks. Go out and explore and enjoy yourselves and keep vigilante.
Gill Mcgregor
Amulree

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Prevent Further Dog Thefts - be proactive today not tomorrow

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