I've spoken to a police officer about this in a kung fu class - you can hit an intruder ONLY if you believe he is going to hit you first. It's called pre-emptive strike and is very much legal luckily.

Still, the thought of someone trying to steal my dog and even break into my house for such a thing terrifies me, Oscar's a black shih tzu, so quite uncommon, though he's neutered now so that'll have lowered his monetary value...I'll have to warn my mum, she walks him the most.

Call a police immediately if you feels there's someone stalking at your pets.

Myself and my partner are thinking about getting our first dog in the near future and I have to say this thread has worried me somewhat. We were thinking of getting a pedigree smooth coat chihuahua which are very expensive and having read this I am now not so sure that is a good idea. Our second choice was a whippet and again after reading how many are stolen or are attempted to be stolen I am quite worried! Especially as I am not even 5" tall and only 22! I dont think I would stand a chance if several men tried to take my dog from me when I was walking it

They can be expensive but you shouldn't worry too much about dogs being stolen, it doesn't happen that often. As long as you take precautions you should be OK. I have chihuahuas and walk them - not all together and always in a well used, public area.

I had a staffie years ago and i remember one occasion where i was parked up in my car with my staffie next to me on the front seat (we were just about to go for a walk and i was putting on his harness) when 3 gypsies tried to open the passenger door (all doors were locked) they were saying 'oh he is lovely' 'how much do you want for him' 'let us look at him' 'he'd make a great fighting dog' iwas and shouted 'he's not for sale' and drove off. It was very scary! If the door had been unlocked they would have taken him i think. Shudders! He was my baby and i wouldnt have let him go for the world!!
I only had him for a few months more though as he was hit by a car and was so poorly he had to be pts x

There are Gypsies been housed in Beeston Nottingham, and one of them said to an old lady who had a pug he's nice, can I have him, of course she said no and the girl who was with the gypsies, said I want that dog, so the old lady scream for help and they just walked off, make me sick, I would gladly shoot the b......s

hi can someone let the lady know forget her username but she has posted tonight abt her door being kicked in and her dog stolen and think she lives in nottingham ty xx

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Oh christ, this thread has made me feel sick. We don't get that many travellers round here but had a few encounters with them,

I have 2 female un-neutered pugs so am very scared after reading this

I had some woman (a druggy looking type) asking me if they were expensive yesterday, i was shocked and muttered something about 'well, maybe a little'

I'm going to have to come up with some rehersed answer, I think I might start saying I rescued them both as they have serious heart problems and are on a lot of meds and also tat they are spayed.

It f**cking awful that we have to do such things in fear of someone stealing our babies

If someone stole my bitches I would never get over it, I would have nightmares about them being 'farmed' churning out pup after pup

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2 pugs Poppy-Mae and Lily-Lou and CKCS Daisy-Boo

gypsies have stolen my mums cocker spaniel on 23/3/10 and she was ready for having her pups...we know its them but because we can`t prove it police won`t do a thing. It makes me sick! My mum is devastated, she can`t eat or sleep with worrying about our little lucy and whether she`s being fed and looked after properly.. it makes me so mad that they can get away with it!

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R.I.P Chloe 1989 - 20/8/10.. gone but never ever forgotten

Oh no!!

I'm so sorry to hear this!

Do you know who has got her?

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2 pugs Poppy-Mae and Lily-Lou and CKCS Daisy-Boo