A reminder that dog theft is rapidly on the rise. A disgusting sick crime taking dogs from outside supermarkets, or from gardens, or even from kennels, to sell on, use for breeding in makeshift puppy farms, or for even worse motives. Taken from their families and 40-50% never get reunited 😢

Please be vigilant at all times with your dogs, and never leave them unattended in gardens and outside supermarkets. It only takes seconds for some lowlife to take them.

Please watch this appeal video from the family of a beautiful springer spaniel called Bella who was stolen 9 weeks ago from outside Tesco Express, Rothwell, Northamptonshire. She had never been left outside a shop before, she was left just minutes, was in the wrong place at the wrong time and some stone hearted thief took her (captured on CCTV but extremely blurred). 9 weeks ago and no sightings. The family which includes young children are devastated and all they want for Christmas is Bella home.

Please watch and share on facebook and help this family and Bella. And don't let this happen to your dog. Thank you.

http://youtu.be/ly99JyIQeas

Hope Bella is found. I often see dogs tied up outside supermarkets, takeaways and small shops too.

Good advice, I don't leave mine outside shops, or where she can be stolen. Makes me sick, how many low life criminals we have to put up with these days.

This is exactly the truth of things. Everyone knows that it goes on and yet I regularly see dogs (and valuable ones) left outside Sainsburys...

It baffles the mind what these people are thinking

Met up with some old friends with our dogs for a walk in some woods. They suggested lunch in a cafe/restaurant but the cafe was halfway through the woodland walk. The place had a mini unlocked pound where customers could leave their dogs. But it was out of sight and my friends thought I was being a wuss when I refused to leave my dog there.

As a dog owner this terrifies me.

I don't get how someone leaves their dog tied up outside a shop.

I understand some leave them in their gardens and they should be safe as that's the owners own house, but leaving a dog tied up outside a shop is just utterly idiotic. You couldn't pay me to do that.

I have to admit I live in a rough area so am probably overly cautious and wouldn't even let the dogs in the garden on their own but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

The sad thing is this will continue on because laws against animal theft or abuse are pitiful.

Rough area or not, don't ever leave your dog. There are opportunists everywhere these days

No as I said I'm probably overly cautious. But I won't even let them in the yard for a pee alone. All it takes is ten seconds and it's just not worth the risk.

I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to them and it could have been avoided just by me being careful.