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Be aware when walking locally - Jane Gard (23rd Aug 2019 - 17:18:29) This was on Fb..... Keep safe. (Hampshire/Surrey and surrounding areas) A slightly different post this morning as we had a bit of a scare yesterday that we’d like to share with you all in the hope that you can avoid a similar situation. Whilst on a job in the Greatham area we were walking two lovely dogs through the Longmoor forest and encountered a peculiar person. He was standing alone in the entry way to the forest smoking and pretending to be on his phone. As we walked past, we said “Good Morning” as we do with everyone we meet but he was more interested in trying to talk to the dogs than paying any attention to us. We moved on quickly but a glance over our shoulders revealed he was following. He followed a short way up the footpath until we took a more overgrown route and then seemed to turn back. Feeling uncomfortable we made a beeline for the other exit planning on getting out of there to be on the safe side. As you approach the exit behind the bus stop there are tall overgrown areas which block your view somewhat but there the man was again. He’d backed himself into a fern and had his phone against an ear. His head popped up over the foliage trying to see where we were and it’s lucky it did as we might not have seen him otherwise. We quickly doubled back and made for the car park instead, but there he was again, he clearly knew the area well taking shortcuts we didn’t even know were there. At this stage we were fairly certain something was wrong and very shaken up so I called 101. The police were amazing and very helpful and we were eventually able to leave the forest by another exit with police guidance but needless to say we were both very concerned. This morning we have woken up to notification that we were not the only intended victims yesterday! The man in question was approximately 6ft tall with close shaved grey hair and glasses on his head. He was wearing a worn out snoopy t-shirt and jeans. He entered the forest via the small car park off of the roundabout and there was a white van parked in the lay-by opposite which we feel may be associated. Please be safe, keep your dogs on their leads and keep your eyes open for anyone suspicious! Share with your friends and families and keep those puppies close! 🐶🐾 ( Body camera has been ordered and will now be worn on all walks for your dogs and my own safety)

Re: Be aware when walking locally - Lizzie (23rd Aug 2019 - 22:13:37) Oh my goodness!! So pleased you are all ok and the police were so helpful. Similar thing happened to me many years ago. Do you think he was waiting for you to let dogs off? Let’s hope that’s and end to it. Thanks for being informing us, very frightening

Re: Be aware when walking locally - Jen (24th Aug 2019 - 10:33:19) It's definitely good advice to keep dogs on leads or at least never to let them go out of sight. I've seen loads of "missing dog" posters around this area lately. It does look as though someone is taking them.

Re: Be aware when walking locally - Sarah (25th Aug 2019 - 12:12:15) How horribly scary for you, glad you are ok, if a bit shaken up - and good to know the police provided some assistance at the time. Do you know whether they are following up in any way given how many dogs seem to be going missing? Anything more you can add by way of a description of the man would be great.

Re: Be aware when walking locally - Jen (25th Aug 2019 - 14:07:35) Sarah, There is a lot more information about the incident on the Facebook page of Darcy's Dog Walking & Pet Services. Link below. www.facebook.com/...

Re: Be aware when walking locally - Sarah (25th Aug 2019 - 17:55:44) Thanks Jen - sobering reading

Re: Be aware when walking locally - oldie (26th Aug 2019 - 08:32:09) Why do people want to steal dogs when Battersea Dogs Home can't give many of them away, poor things being put down because nobody wants them. OK I know they're probably cross breeds, not pure, but so what, if I needed a dog think I'd get one of them then nobody would want to nick it!

Re: Be aware when walking locally - oldie (26th Aug 2019 - 08:43:04) PS if this guy was meant to be the discreet lookout, he does sound like the worst man for the job, I'm surprised he wasn't wearing an orange jump suit.

Re: Be aware when walking locally - Mary (26th Aug 2019 - 09:58:44) People often mention rescue dogs and I'm very tempted. The problem is, many have psychological problems because of the way they've been treated, poor things. And it is so much easier for older people to have a dog they can train to their lifestyle. I wish I could find a decent young mongrel where I can see the home. Surely there must be 'mistakes' occasionally, and unwanted litters. Or maybe someone with a nice little dog, not too old, who has a change in their life and can no longer deal with a loved pet?

Re: Be aware when walking locally - oldie (26th Aug 2019 - 13:11:19) Mary, you're probably right, not being a dog owner I can only guess, although I suspect with a good many owners it's a pride thing too! It probably sounds better to other owners to have a shitzpoo chow chow or something other than a Battersea Dogs Home rescue (it's illogical really there should be more kudos in having rescued a poor mutt), I'm sure there are some nice ones, if people tell the recue workers what their needs are they'll keep a lookout as they get to know the dogs a bit while they're there. Anyway, to be fair to him (benefit of the doubt and all that), perhaps the bloke on the phone might not have been doing anything wrong, maybe he was actually just on his phone moving about trying to get a signal, maybe he didn't want to speak to the dog walker and preferred to stroke their dog, or they missed his 'hi' or he was just a bit socially shy or awkward or who knows! Anyway sounds like the police were called so they'll sort it out one way or other. But if the report makes people more careful of their safety rather than paranoid of other people's unexpected 'out of the norm' behaviour that's probably OK, since it's a free world, odd behaviour/ normal behaviour that's sometimes a matter of opinion, I would guess the real dog thief is usually the one you don't see or suspect!

Re: Be aware when walking locally - J (26th Aug 2019 - 14:27:41) I'm not a dog owner but have had family who are and without exception the mongrels have been lovely dogs and the pure-breeds have been horrid. If (and it's unlikely) I were to ever get a dog I'd much rather get a young rescued mongrel than pay a fortune for a breed.

Re: Be aware when walking locally - Helen (26th Aug 2019 - 14:44:54) You mentioned Kudos in rescuing dogs. The kudos is that a person is saving that dog from being put down or possibly the rest of their life in kennels. There are other ways, there is " borrow my Doggy" where you can help the owner out without having the dog full time. Sometimes a fashionable designer cross breed dog can cost 1 thousand pounds. An elderly person sometimes cannot cope with a puppy no matter how small.

Re: Be aware when walking locally - A.R (26th Aug 2019 - 15:38:39) Mary, Greyhounds are amazing dogs and require little work. They do not need long walks and make great companions even for older people. There are many who need re homing, and having a larger dog makes you feel safer, although they are soppy things. You can not go wrong with them . You may end up losing your sofa though as they love their comforts. I have had two and they have been amazing.

Re: Be aware when walking locally - Diane (26th Aug 2019 - 15:53:45) Another reason for stealing dogs not necessarily the posh ones is for Dogfighting.

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