A new ‘dog watch’ scheme set up by Wiltshire Police, has been welcomed by Westbury dog owners concerned about the safety of their pets.
The new online scheme will allow owners to express any concerns they may have about dog thefts, as well as report incidents.
Dog owners have shared experiences of being followed whilst walking their dog, and incidents of being photographed by strangers.
Also, a report of an attempted theft of a dog in Corsham in March, heightened concerns that dog thieves could be operating in the area.
About the new scheme, one dog owner told White Horse News, “Our dogs and other pets are part of the family so to have one stolen, or an attempted theft is devastating for the owner and their children.
“We are fortunate in Wiltshire that no dogs have been reported stolen, though the police are investigating a few attempted thefts, however, this does not mean that we should be complacent.
“Although the police do not want people to panic or worry unnecessarily, we dog owners should be vigilant when out walking our dogs, be wary of individuals showing an over interest, and ensure that our dogs and cats are locked inside or kept in safe and secure kennels overnight.
“Do sign up to the Dog Watch, this can be found on www.wiltsmessaging.co.uk All attempts should be reported on 101, the more we share information the safer our pets can be.”
Police have set up the scheme to help reassure owners in response to a recent rise in perception and concern – which they say has been “driven by social media” – that more dog thefts and attempted dog thefts are taking place across the country.
Although there have been no reports of dogs being physically stolen in Wiltshire in 2021, the force has confirmed it is investigating reports of attempted dog thefts.
Wiltshire Police’s Assistant Chief Constable, Debs Smith, explains, “As a dog owner myself, I appreciate the concern and worry owners have around dog thefts.
“Despite there being no reported cases of thefts here in Wiltshire so far this year I can understand why the perception is worse than the real picture.
“We are currently investigating reports of a handful of attempted dog thefts as well as being made aware, via social media, of some suspicious activity by some individuals around dogs.
“We do take this type of crime seriously and want to be proactive in helping dog owners protect their much loved pets – and so I welcome the setting up of Dog Watch.
“This scheme has two major benefits: it helps with the sharing of information amongst a dog loving community and also helps us, the police, build up an intelligence picture of potential issues in a particular area.
“Please note though, you should still report any attempted thefts via 101 or our website.
“While we don’t want people to panic or worry unnecessarily, we would continue to remind everyone to be vigilant when out walking their dogs and to ensure their animals are locked inside or kept in safe and secure kennels overnight.”
To sign up to Dog Watch, go to: www.wiltsmessaging.co.uk. Once you have signed up to Community Messaging – which alerts you to what is happening in your community – you can select ‘Dog Watch’ to receive relevant information.
