Life 'on hold' for devastated dog owners after beloved pets stolen - The Leamington Observer

Life 'on hold' for devastated dog owners after beloved pets stolen

Leamington Editorial 16th May, 2019   0

DEVASTATED dog owners say their lives are ‘on hold’ after their beloved pets were stolen.

Janene Dooler and daughter Ysabelle Martin were among victims of a recent spate of dog thefts.

Weimaraner Loki and Dachshund Pippin were taken from the family garden in Kineton around a month ago – and since then the mum and daughter have spent every spare minute travelling up and down the country looking for their pets.

Since the theft they say their lives are a constant cycle of checking social media and chasing potential leads.




Janene said: “Our life is on hold and our family is changed forever. We have gone from being very trusting to being suspicious of everyone.

“Ysabelle cancelled her 21st birthday party recently and just cannot function.


“We travel the country when we get a lead. We have visited gypsy camps and are worried Pippin could be at a puppy farm.”

Along with spending their days travelling the UK looking for their dogs, they wake several times a night to check social media to see if there are any leads which could help reunite the pair with their pets.

And they now refuse to let their other two dogs outside on their own or leave them alone in the house when they go out.

Janene added: “The dynamics in the house have changed and we are totally consumed with finding them. Ysabelle has lost her best friends and our lives have been changed forever.”

The loss of Loki and Pippin is among a spate of recent dog thefts.

Thieves most recently struck in Coventry on Wednesday May 8. A young Staffordshire Bull Terrier was taken from a car on Hipswell Highway. His owner had gone to check he could take the dog into a relative’s home and when he returned minutes later the pup was gone.

Other nearby thefts include two Chihuahuas from a car in Hinckley, and a litter of six-week-old crossbreed puppies from Daventry.

Rugby-based dog rescue charity Pawprints has issued a warning to owners to take extra care of their pets.

Spokeswoman Anita Twigger told the Observer: “There has been an increase in opportunist thefts of dogs in a close vicinity to us.

“We are warning the community to take extra care of their dogs, don’t leave your dogs unsupervised, beware of strangers approaching you asking questions about your dog and please keep your dogs within your line of sight when out walking – be extra vigilant.

“Do not leave them in your car, not even for a minute, and definitely never leave them tied up outside shops.”

Call 07824905708 with any information about Loki and Pippin and ring police on 101 with any information about any of the other stolen dogs.

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