Pet homeowners are being warned to remain additional vigilant proper now for canine thefts by criminals planning to pressure breed females for his or her vile Christmas puppy commerce.
The interval from now till the primary week in September is the time puppy farmers purpose to mate or inseminate bitches within the hope of a profitable being pregnant. It provides them time for the 9 week gestation interval and between 5 and eight weeks to wean the pups and promote them to houses from December 20 and even earlier.
An investigator advised the DogsLive: “This interval in August is the crunch level for unscrupulous breeders who wish to hit the Christmas puppy market. They have a deadline looming and so they do not care the place the dogs come from, they simply want breeding machines.
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“In late July and August specifically we are likely to see dogs going lacking, being lifted by opportunists or being stolen to order. Many of those dogs are then introduced into warmth artificially utilizing medication, whereas others could also be coming in to warmth by coincidence.
“And they will raise any canine, male or feminine no matter breed and so they do not care of the dogs are too younger both. The older dogs they could attempt to breed however they usually simply dump them.
“Dogs are nonetheless being stolen to order and the most well-liked breeds stay the French Bulldogs, Dachshunds and something fluffy that can look cute in photographs.
“I at all times inform folks to stay vigilant all 12 months spherical for his or her dogs however particularly in July and August when persons are typically out of their space because of holidays and dogs are unfamiliar with walks in unusual locations. Dog snatchers know this and this week specifically is the busiest for breeding so as to hit that Christmas deadline and payday for these folks.
“It takes little or no effort to raise a straying or misplaced canine and put it in a van. The crime is finished and dusted in minutes and the canine and the thief are lengthy gone in not time in any respect.”
St Columb’s Animal Rescue and Rehoming, acquired a report on August 23 from a canine proprietor who pet was lifted in entrance of him by a stranger and positioned in a van within the Waterside space of Derry.
It is unclear what motive the individual within the van had for taking the canine within the Prehen Woods space of the town and the canine was later discovered additional alongside the highway.
A charity spokesperson mentioned: “We acquired a report of a canine being taken while out on a walk by his proprietor.
“The aged canine was walking off lead ahead of his owner in the Prehen Woods area of Waterside when a white van was seen stopping and lifting the dog and then driving off.
” Fortunately the dog was soon found further along the road and is safe and well now back with his owner. It is believed the person(s) who lifted him, realised that he was an elderly dog and dumped him back out of the van again.
“The police have been notified about this incident. If anyone else has seen a white van acting suspiciously in this area, please contact the page or the police directly.
“Please be extremely vigilant when out walking your dogs especially around this area.”
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