DogHorn
A new DogHorn.UK Group in Wrexham!
Say Hello To Lindsay and Sven!
Lindsay is starting up a DogHorn.UK affiliated group in Wrexham. I asked her to write a few words…
"Hi I’m Lindsay, the owner of Wrexham Pet Care. My husband (Sven) and I run this business together providing various pet services to the local community in Wrexham. My passion has always been animals we even have a mini zoo in our house!
We recently rescued our gorgeous Heinz 57 boy ‘Nelson’ who has had a horrific history in Egypt and lost an eye there. He still requires a lot of training as he is very nervous, you will definitely hear him before you see him!
Wrexham Pet Care started out of the idea that as well as dogs, that we have a lot of exotic pets and when WE went on trips nobody knew how to look after them. So I though ‘hey I can offer this’.
So now we do jobs such as walking, nail clipping and microchipping.
My dream is to one day have a small holding where we can rescue animals of all shapes and sizes give them the love and care they need so they can have a happy life with us, or maybe one day be rehomed.
Both having Nelson and the dog walking business has made me very aware of how many dog thefts are happening and how easy it is for thieves to get away with dogs. So if I can help to reduce this by working with DogHorn and promoting their Yellow Lanyard Campaign, then that would be great. You can purchase DogHorn Lanyard/Whistle Pack - Wrexham Pet Care for £5.
About DogHorn
Almost everyone dog owner knows now that dog thefts are rising as a result of a growing demand for dogs and puppies during lockdown. Being able to make up to £3000 for a dog, or tens of thousands for a prime dog that can provide two or three litters of puppies, means thieves are seeing this as a quick and safer way to make money.
It’s made worse in the knowledge that the fines and punishments for dog theft are ridiculously small (typically £250) and the courts see a dog as something no more than a bicycle or a bag of sweets. However to a family a dog is a huge part of a family and of its daily routine. For many, dogs have been a lifesaver during lockdown.
A milestone was reached in mid January 2021 after a retired policeman, suffering from severe PTSD, had his young Labrador called “Ted” stolen during a walk on Wimbledon Common. He was pushed to the ground, his wrist stood on until he released the dog. The uproar hit every news channel. However, even before this, dogs have been stolen at the rate of 15 to 20 every day in UK, a significant increase as 2020 grew to a halt.
Most worrying of all is that Northumberland saw the greatest increase of dog thefts in UK in 2020.
A non-profit campaign (The DogHorn Campaign) was set up in late November 2020 to bring awareness to the local area of dog thefts and to help educate dog owners in an area of dog theft is the few seconds before and the minutes straight after a theft or attempted theft. It’s advice gives a greater chance of preventing a theft through a number of different strategies.
The campaign organisers say that the key to success is through visibility, teamwork and having devices that will generate warning sound, such as whistles (but not dog whistles), car horns, personal (rape) alarms. They have researched the best products for the best outcomes and made them available along with other safety items such as deterrent sprays and high viz clothing. A thief will think twice about approaching someone who looks as though they are prepared, and think even more about approaching someone visibly armed with a spray, alarm or strobe, especially if there are others prepared and visible in the area too.
Prevention is always better than the cure. So here are a few reminders
• Avoid walking alone, especially at night
• Don’t leave dogs tied up outside shops
• Be especially aware of insecure gardens and outdoor kennels
• Don’t think your dog isn’t a target, almost all dogs are• Make sure your dog is chipped and it’s registered and up to date
• Think about what anti-theft products would help you
• Always check before you buy, and buy from reputable sites
To learn more visit www.doghorn.uk or join their facebook page @doghorngroup. It’s a site dedicated to help you, as a dog owner, prepare for avoiding a dog theft and prepare for one just in case it happens. Apart from stocking products and providing excellent advice, it is also helping with petitions to make the much-needed changes to the Law to increase fines and sentences for dog theft.
