North Yorkshire Police urge dog owners not to take weapons on walks

North Yorkshire Police is urging dog owners not to take weapons with them on walks amid growing concerns about dog thefts.

The force said it had seen reports on social media of owners taking weapons with them to protect themselves and their pet.

The message comes following another report of a attempted dog theft in the county, this time in Pickering.

In another incident, six-year-old female cocker spaniel Lassie was taken from her pen in a back garden in Allen Grove, Stokesley, on July 28 last year.

CCTV footage shows three suspects in what is believed to be a white Volkswagen, possibly a Tiguan, steal the dog.

Two dogs were stolen from Scorton in November.

The two springer spaniel bitches called Poppy and Meg were taken during the night.

North Yorkshire Police Inspector Martin Dennison, said he was aware there was a lot of concern around dog thefts both nationally and in North Yorkshire.

However, he said he wanted to reassure communities that dog thefts were incredibly rare.

“Enquiries are ongoing following the incident in Pickering recently and we are working hard to follow up any reports of suspicious activity from the public.

“Whilst it is always advisable to take the necessary steps which help keep your pets safe, such as microchipping and keeping them close to you on a walk, dog owners in North Yorkshire do not need to be fearful for their own or their dog’s safety.

“Social media is an important tool for our communities, and one which we use a lot in policing to help share information, but please be cautious when reading and sharing posts as some issues may not be as they appear.”

“We have heard reports and social media posts around taking weapons for protection on daily dog walks and I want to underline the fact that we do not advise or condone this.

“Please remember, carrying a weapon is illegal and could result in injury to yourself and/or others. If you see anything suspicious or experience anything which you are worried about then be assured we are here to help so please call 101 to report any concerns.”Police say there are a number of steps people can take to help safeguard their dog:

• Ensure your pet is microchipped – if your dog runs off and it is found, you can be easily traced as its owner. If your dog is stolen, when it is taken to the vets, they will discover that the dog is chipped and you will be identified as its rightful owner.
• Don’t leave dogs unattended in the street, however small and friendly the community.
• Don’t leave your dog alone in a car – particularly when the weather starts to warm up.
• Don’t overshare on social media, ensure your privacy settings are secure and don’t share details about your home address or regular walking routes.
• Ensure your garden is secure and don’t leave them alone for long periods of time.
• If you keep them outside, make sure your property and kennels are secure.
• Always keep them on a lead when walking near roads.
• Ensure your dog is fully trained to come back to you before you let it off the lead.
• Don’t allow your dog to run free near farm animals – we regularly deal with reports of livestock being killed or seriously injured as a result of dog attacks in North Yorkshire and it is vital that owners keep their pets under control at all times.