Dog thefts warning

The Kildare West Wicklow SPCA has issued a warning about dog thefts in the area, including Calverstown, Narraghmore, Kill and Athy, writes Brian Byrne.

The warning includes a number of safety precautions which dog owners should take, including commonsense ones like locking side gates on homes, not leaving a dog in the front garden or tied up outside a shop.

KWWSPCA also appeals for owners to get their dogs neutered and microchipped, with a sign saying so on the collar, as thieves aren't interested in them if they're done.

Also, if a dog has been microchipped, the chip must be registered so that the animal can be easily identified as stolen.

"If your dog has been taken report it to the guards, pound, local vets and rescue agencies and post all over Facebook to make it too hot to handle so that the thieves will let him or her go," a spokesperson adds. "Also please be aware if you have small breeds such as Bichons, Cavalier spaniels, Shih Tzus, Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Westies etc that these are highly sought after by these thieves and are easy to pick up and sell on."

Meanwhile, Pippa (right) went missing on Sunday 5 October from the Halverstown area. She is 18 months old, extremely friendly and is very small though not a 'miniature'. She had a brownish collar on and a tag with the owners mobile on it — 086 3818534. It is possible she may have been stolen as there were a number of burglaries in the area on the day in question. If you have any information as to Pippa's whereabouts, please contact her owner Vanessa.