Pet owners warned following thefts

NORTHSIDE pet
owners are being urged to beware of brazen opportunists who are literally
stealing dogs in front of their owners.

Northside People understands that a number of dogs of
various breeds and ages have been stolen in the Donaghmede, Donnycarney and
Coolock areas in recent weeks.

Two weeks ago, a pet owner out walking his dog in
Father Collins Park, Donaghmede, was left shocked when a man calmly jumped out
of a van, walked over and snatched the dog that was walking without a lead in
front of its owner.

Bizarrely, a Golden Retriever was taken from St Anne’s
Park shortly before Christmas, and three weeks ago, a 10-week-old German
Shepherd was snatched from the front garden of a house in Edenmore. The owner
turned their back for a brief moment on the dog that was let out to go to the toilet.

And a similar theft occurred in Marino in Donnycarney
two weeks ago when a four-month-old Chiuaua puppy was taken from a resident’s
garden.

Nadia Chamberlain, who works at Raheny Veterinary
Clinic, said there doesn’t seem to be a trend between the thefts.

“There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason for the
thefts,

? Ms Chamberlain told Northside People.

“The dogs are all of different breeds and ages; some
have been taken from homes and others from parks.

“It’s heartbreaking and very worrying. Most of us have
animals so we realise how devastating the loss or theft of a pet must be.

“Some of these dogs were micro-chipped so it’s not
really a case that someone found the dogs and didn’t know what to do with
them.

?

Ms Chamberlain added:

“If someone came across these
dogs, they’d know to get in touch with a vet or the gardai who would scan them
for identification microchips.

?

Jimmy Cahill, chief executive of the Dublin Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA), said that while he wasn’t aware
of the dog thefts on the Northside, he does believe that the animals have been
more than likely sold on.

“We’re living in tough times now,

? Mr Cahill told
Northside People.

“It’s likely that whoever took these animals are going
to sell them on to make money.

“People would buy anything, particularly through these
classified websites that are popular now.

“Basically they see a dog for sale, the seller agrees
to meet them somewhere local and the handover occurs with no questions asked.

“We’ve had a problem in that people then take these
animals home and realise they’re sick and in need of veterinary care, which is
when they contact us.

?

According to Mr Cahill, it is unlikely that the dogs
have been stolen for breeding or fighting.

“It’s only really pit bulls or pit bull crosses that
are used for fighting,

? he stated.

“I think in the case of the thefts outlined that it
could be a case that these dogs have been stolen to order or because they are
more likely to sell for a good price.

?

Mr Cahill said that the presence of a microchip in
stolen pets would only come to light if they are brought to the vets. Even then
it might not even be identified if the vet fails to scan for a microchip.