Ransoms on stolen dogs.

They also threaten to kill the dog if the owner goes to the police.

I was so looking forward to having a dog once I retired but these dog thieves and fraudsters have spoilt it all for me. At 73 and not as nimble as I once was, I would be an easy target for someone wanting to steal my dog. He is quite a nervous puppy and the thought of him being stolen by strangers and possibly ill-treated makes me feel sick. There are some nasty people out there who know that a owner, distraught at losing their dog, will do and pay anything to get it back.

There have been notices in the country park near here with photos of dogs that have been taken.
It is heartbreaking for the owners and then to be told the dog will die if they don't pay is disgusting.

My granddaughter has a thriving dog walking service but I do worry about her safety and that of the dogs. It's a sad state of affairs when people stoop this low.

I heard about this on You & Yours on radio 4 yesterday AGA
Just when you thought that they couldn't sink any lower.
There was a recording of one of the scum, they were very threatening and sounded vile.
One of the dog owner was interviewed, she was utterly heartbroken. It made me cry.
It's evil

I felt I had to highlight this as too many people are being targeted by these evil fraudsters. One man had his dog taken from his house while he was in the garden.

Police have asked people not to put information and photos of their dogs on social media.

Fanny I heard that recording too. The poor woman felt convinced that he did have her dog and was willing to pay to get him back.
I understand how bereft people feel when their dog is stolen.

It's a bad world we're living in and getting worse when members of the law are killed. It's frightening. What's the solution ?

The Dog's Trust have a video about extortion. The owners of two terriers, Ruby and Beetle, suffered with a hoaxer trying to extort more money from them, apparently it's very common when a reward is offered.

As for dog theft, I've now got a whistle, rape alarm, and a red gel spray. My dog is twelve and a half, and when he goes over the rainbow bridge, I won't have another dog.

My friend in Bucks has just told me that her dog groomer was targeted at 7.30 am one morning, just as he arrived at the salon. A man came in mumbling about wanting a card, very obviously looking at the groomer's dogs. The groomer chased him out, but was very shaken and has increased his security.

We have a local initiative here in Northumberland -

www.doghorn.uk

This is a truly terrifying recent development, and now when I take my dog out I only walk her where there are others around, and never, ever tie her up outside the local shop. I used to do that, knowing that she would be fussed and talked to by other people while I popped in, but now I just will not contemplate it, too many cases of vans pulling up and dogs being seized before anyone can do anything. We had a case locally of a young girl out walking her pug, she was set upon by a couple of men who tried to snatch the dog and gave her quite a pasting as she fought them off, successfully fortunately.

I'd carry a pepper spray whether they're illegal or not if I was a dog owner.
Failing that one of those loud personal alarms that you can fit in your pocket.

I found a dog wandering alone in the park where I walk. I tried to get to his collar to see if there was a number but he thought it was a game and ran off. I tried to find him but he had gone.

People do let their dogs off the lead there and there are so many paths for the dogs to explore it would be easy for one of these lowlifes to make off with the dog while the owner is out of sight. Several dogs have been taken from there and I am always sad to see yet another poster up about a lost dog.

It is a sad state of affairs. I was lucky enough to buy a bungalow with an extension leading to the garden with patio doors, but would never leave my dog in the garden unnattended.

I don't tell anyone my dog's name, I don't leave him on his own in the car, or tied up outside a shop. Someone wants what we have, and will do anything to us or our dog to get it.