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Coronavirus: Lockdown year 'worst ever' for dog thefts
BBC ^ | October 16, 2020 | Amy Woodfields

Posted on 10/17/2020 6:42:50 AM PDT by DoodleBob

For many dog owners, the coronavirus pandemic has meant more time at home with their canine companions.

However, some experts are claiming the demand for dogs during lockdown has led to a significant increase in pets being stolen, with one - Wayne May from the organisation Dog Lost - saying: "I've been doing this for 30 years now and it's the worst ever year I've known".

"Unfortunately, due to lockdown, people are at home more and they're looking for companion animals to take up their time.

"Sadly the criminals capitalised on this. It's pushed the price of dogs and puppies up in general, which has inadvertently sparked a high rise in dog thefts."

His view is shared by Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today magazine, who said: "Unfortunately in lockdown everyone wanted a dog and the prices went up and up.

"The criminals looked at those figures... and put two and two together."

...

The Kennel Club reported a 168% increase in people searching for puppies for sale on its website from the beginning of lockdown until the end of May, compared to the same period in 2019.

Mr May said most of the dogs being stolen are female and are used for breeding, so criminal gangs can maximise their profits.

"We've recovered several this year that have been pregnant," he said. This theory was also shared by Suffolk Police in July, when 17 dogs were stolen from a kennels in Barton Mills.

Mr May said the theft of a dog can have a "massive" impact on owners, and some were now suffering from depression, anxiety and PTSD.

"I [was in touch with] one lady recently that just never went to bed. She slept on the sofa with the back door open all summer, hoping her dog would walk home,"

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chat; covid19; dognapping; pets
Whoda thunk. Add this to the list of Bad Unintended Consequences of Lockdowns.
1 posted on 10/17/2020 6:42:50 AM PDT by DoodleBob
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To: DoodleBob

How many Chows have been stolen?


2 posted on 10/17/2020 6:45:22 AM PDT by Scrambler Bob (This is not /s. It is just as viable as any MSM 'information', maybe more so!)
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To: DoodleBob

Not me.

You can make puppies pretty easily. Just get one dog and one bitch for each batch—they’ll do all the work.

A lot less risky than theft.


3 posted on 10/17/2020 6:49:07 AM PDT by Alas Babylon! (The only thing worse than COVID-19 is Biden-20!)
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To: DoodleBob

‘”Unfortunately, due to lockdown, people are at home more and they’re looking for companion animals to take up their time.’

And from the number of dogs and cats running loose in our area I’m wondering if the folks adopting them are now just turning them loose when they go back to work.


4 posted on 10/17/2020 6:57:11 AM PDT by antidemoncrat (Biden's)
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To: Alas Babylon!

“A lot less risky than theft”

Look at the line up photos of the people arrested at the Portland riots. The Manson family on meth. These people are not worried about facing any consequences for their actions. Leftist DA’s are just not prosecuting these people for rioting or theft. The police are not able to respond to major crimes, let alone theft, due to budget cuts.

All theft is up. One major bike shop in Portland had $20,000 worth of bikes stolen at their second robbery in a month.


5 posted on 10/17/2020 6:59:19 AM PDT by Cold Heart (Portland Voted for IT)
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To: antidemoncrat
I spoke to someone who works at an animal shelter, and yes...many lonely people who adopted animals came back and returned them because they didn't realize that owning Fido was hard work. I don't know if the returns also arose from people returning to work and regretting the "burden" of a pet.

My guess is many other people just kicked Fido out of the home.

There are more pressing issues in life (abortion, child neglect to name a few). But this sort of thing is also a sad window into the souls of people.

6 posted on 10/17/2020 7:08:35 AM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s^2)
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To: DoodleBob

Plenty of dogs at the animal shelter. I just checked local shelter and there were 40 to 50 animals. Of course, 90% of the adoptable dogs were pit bulls.


7 posted on 10/17/2020 7:16:55 AM PDT by moovova
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To: DoodleBob

I have a new, pure-bred puppy that I bought after losing my canine companion during the worst of the lockdown and was severely depressed.

I also picked up a rescue dog from the local pound.

We have three, large fenced yards - and the dogs are not allowed out unless one of us is out there with them, especially the front yard.


8 posted on 10/17/2020 7:22:38 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Baby!)
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To: DoodleBob

If you think this is bad, just wait until Western Civilisation collapses, the ruling Communist Chinese oligarchy takes over, everybody’s starving, and the dogs (and cats) are stolen for FOOD!


9 posted on 10/17/2020 7:25:04 AM PDT by Savage Beast (The left hates President Trump most because he is a truth seeker and is on the Side of the Angels.)
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To: Savage Beast
If it gets to that point, the animals won't be the food source.


10 posted on 10/17/2020 7:28:44 AM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s^2)
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To: DoodleBob

Try to steal my hundred pound german shepherd. I dare you. Please supply your own large baggie so I can pick up what’s left of you


11 posted on 10/17/2020 7:29:02 AM PDT by Mom MD
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To: Mom MD

My dear FRiend, I wasn’t so inclined anyway....but, when you put “hundred pound german shepherd” and “large baggie” and “pick up” in the same sentence, that alone should make most people turn away from dog-napping!


12 posted on 10/17/2020 7:35:07 AM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s^2)
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To: DoodleBob

Yup. she does leave a lot of yard clean up behind!!!!


13 posted on 10/17/2020 7:51:54 AM PDT by Mom MD
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To: DoodleBob

A pretty lousy reason to get a dog, stoken or otherwise. How many of these dogs will wind up abandoned or in shelters once they are not “needed” anymore?


14 posted on 10/17/2020 7:53:16 AM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican (The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.)
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To: Cold Heart

True about the typical protesting Leftist, but these dog thefts are happening in the UK.


15 posted on 10/17/2020 9:33:46 AM PDT by Alas Babylon! (The only thing worse than COVID-19 is Biden-20!)
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To: DoodleBob

You’re probably right. It’s at the hand-over-your-pets-to-the-abbatoir point in North Korea right now. The Western Nations might move faster though.


16 posted on 10/17/2020 10:55:58 AM PDT by Savage Beast (The left hates President Trump most because he is a truth seeker and is on the Side of the Angels.)
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To: Bon of Babble
I have a new, pure-bred puppy that I bought after losing my canine companion during the worst of the lockdown and was severely depressed.

I wish you joy with your new pups. I am still looking for a new tortie and white Maine Coon kitten after losing my beloved Bijou back in early April. She was one month shy of 12. Just laid down next to me on the couch while I was reading, after a perfectly normal day, and never woke up. I thought I'd found the new kitten I've been seeking, a gorgeous little tortie and white of fantastic breeding. But then, she started to develop stripes and was a torbie after all--not what I am seeking. Nothing to do but continue my search :(

17 posted on 10/17/2020 6:27:31 PM PDT by EinNYC
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To: EinNYC

Thanks and good luck finding your perfect feline companion. My husband has been battling cancer for three years and wanted a new kitten - after losing his large, police dog/pit bull mix. I thought he’d want a new dog, but no, he wanted a kitten! (which we got and I now take care of, LOL).

I was in our far back yard with the new puppy, which looks like a large gopher at the moment, when a very large hawk landed on the telephone pole at the back of our property. I thought it was a beautiful sight until I realized what the hawk was after - my new puppy! I stayed in the yard until the hawk flew off and never allow the pup out there unless I am there - pup is larger now, but I am still cautious.


18 posted on 10/18/2020 6:03:04 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Baby!)
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