The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: Old Shep on April 29, 2015, 11:30:02 am
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We live 2 fields away from the village. One field is ours and on the next field they have started to build 10 houses. Whilst walking around our field this morning I heard a dumper driver shout to the digger driver - "Hey look at that little black and white sheepdog pup!" ( I have good hearing and they were wearing ear defenders making them shout louder than normal). Nothing wrong with that you may think, but it was the next statement which frightened me "That will be worth quite a bit won't it!". As I walked back across the field he was whistling as if to get the dogs attention.
The pup is 9 weeks old, and not actually worth much, as sheepdog pups are two a penny around here. But dog thefts are on the increase especially in the Bradford & Leeds areas which aren't that far away. I usually have all the dogs in outside kennels during the day and in the house when we are. Needless to say I have put them all in the house with the alarm on this morning before coming to work, and feel like doing this until we move in a couple of months. I know the dogs prefer to be outside but I don't want to lose them!
Am I over reacting do you think?
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No, I don't think you're being paranoid at all :dog: :dog: :dog:
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Me neither. You wouldn't forgive yourself if anything happened.
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No. I would be doing the same thing.
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I agree, better keep them safe intil you move rather than lose a member of the family.
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Thanks - OH will have to put up with the kitchen smelling a little doggier than normal!
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Nope 100% right to worry.
Dog theft is rife.
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I agree, keep them safe.
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I would second all above. You can't be too careful , it only takes a few seconds and your dog is gone forever.
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We have half our working dogs out in kennels and half in the house (too many dogs, too small a cottage to have them all in ::) ) and even though we live remotely, dog theft does concern me. Thankfully there is usually someone around at all times, but you just can't be too careful.
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You need to get onto the building company IMMEDIATELY. Make as loud and angry a complaint you can and insist that if anything happens to your dog you will be coming for the company straight away. They will then speak to their sub-contractors ( as that's what they probably are), if only to say "watch out for that bloody pain of a neighbour".
I had a similar experience over a classic car in our last house and I was over to the site office in a trice. I insisted that the site manager get the sub contractors in to warn them that I was on to them.
At least you will feel like you have taken a positive step :sunshine:
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We have a white van cruising locally taking pet dogs and one was taken from a Landrover at the livestock market a couple of weeks ago. They want healthy, friendly dogs. I'd also spread the word among your neighbours, at the local shop, etc. One of our neighbours had a BC dog stolen when there were builders at the property next to the farm, then returned a week later - he assmed it had been used for breeding (or possibly someone had discovered that a working sheepdog really doesn't like life in a semi).
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If only these dogs were just being used for breeding. Many are actually being taken as "easy" bait dogs for dog-fighting Im afraid. So be vigilant