PETS
Making sure your pet is in safe and confident hands.
Police Warn of Dog Snatchers
Message from Bob Lloyd (Police, Neighbourhood Watch Officer, Gloucestershire).
Police are warning pet owners to be alert after receiving separate reports of dog theft in the last week across the county.
People are being asked to keep a close eye on their animals following the dog snatchings.
In the most recent incident, a collie and her six puppies were taken from a property in Brockworth. Thieves broke into a building and took the dogs, along with a number of other items, including two chainsaws, a generator, a Makita radio and a trailer.
Chief Inspector Rich Pegler said: “A dog is not just a pet, it’s a member of the family and part of a home. We are doing all we can to stop these callous thieves and I would urge anyone who sees anything suspicious to call us immediately. There are also a number of ways that you can help protect your dogs, including ensuring that it is never left on its own outside, and making sure that it has been microchipped and the details are up-to-date.”
Other ways of protecting your dog include:
Keep an ID tag on your dog at all times (your surname, mobile number and address only).
Secure gates using bolts at the top and bottom, along with a heavy-duty padlock and gate alarm.
Never leave your pet in the garden unattended.
Purchase a driveway alarm so you are alerted to any intruders, these can also be used in rear gardens and yards.
Make sure your dog is microchipped and their details are updated so that they can be returned if they are stolen and subsequently found.
Avoid leaving a dog tied up outside a shop or left alone in a car, even for a few minutes.
Take lots of photographs of your dog to prove ownership if it’s stolen, pay particular attention to any distinguishing markings on your dog.
You can also prevent theft on walks by varying walk times and locations and being suspicious of strangers who ask questions about your dog. Make a note of any suspicious, loitering vehicles.
Please also be aware of transit vans that have been spotted in the Forest of Dean and Stonehouse areas recently. The occupants have been offering power tools and garden plants for sale at low prices. In the Forest incident, they also paid attention to properties where dogs were running in the gardens.
Social Paws
Award Winning Pet Behaviour Therapy and dog training in Cheltenham and Gloucestershire.
Are you struggling with your anxious dog or your rescue dog? Are you looking for a trusted one to one dog walker? Call us on 07554 427 857. helen@socialpawscheltenham.co.uk
Pet Professional Network
A friendly, inspiring community at the heart of supporting ambitious pet professionals. Our community is for like-minded dog walkers, trainers, behaviourists, groomers, vets, pet sitters, in fact anyone who works with pets and follows our force free philosophy and ethics.
Ronnie's Field
Jen Kiely-Smith of Just Jen Dog Walking had a dream of buying some land and creating a safe area to let dogs run loose and play to their hearts' content. She worked hard for years towards this dream and eventually made it a reality.
The first part of the fully secured and fenced land is affectionately named 'Poo Paddock' and this is where the dogs go first, keeping the rest of the field mostly poo-free. She has eco waste containers where the dog poo is transformed by an army of willing worms and eventually returns into the ground. Everything has been thought out. Jen has a hut that she calls her 'Office' and from there a path leads across a bridge and into the main field. Bliss for dogs and anyone who accompanies them! Further up at the top of the field is a shelter that looks out across stunning views, she really does have one of the best spots in Cheltenham. There are also picnic benches to rest on. The field is in use by Jen and fellow dog walkers who share it between 9am and 3pm daily, and is available to exclusively hire outside of those times.
We are proud of Jen for making her vision into a reality! She's a lovely friend who helped run Cheltenham Noticeboard for several years and is always so supportive to so many people, in her firm and positive manner.
Katie's Review for Ronnie's Field
Local business owner Katie Dobson of Mutha Scrubber went down to Ronnie's Field with her daughter and here's the review she did of it...
'What a lovely place Ronnie’s Field is!!! It’s a private, totally secure field that you hire by the hour to walk your doggies. There are ball throwers and balls to borrow, biodegrade poo bags & eco friendly poo-tanks, picnic benches, tyre swings, lovely views, a fairy forest with REAL fairies and Jen even left a printed out Nature Trail for us to do.
Because there were no other people we were able to meet Mum & Tony there too. 💕 They have a little rescue dog who doesn’t go off the lead much and she loved mooching around with Mr Barker.
Liberty has already said she wants to go back with a picnic and a friend to play with... I totally concur... I’ll take a can of G&T and a friend to play with too. 🤣🙌🏻'
