As a dog owner, when I think of dog thefts it sends my heart racing. Thankfully dog thefts in East Lothian are rare, we are lucky to live in a safe spot but it's helpful to keep vigilant. Dog thefts are not always carried out by strangers, sometimes it can be someone who is known to us. Below are some of the things that I do to enhance my safety when we're out walking.
GPS Trackers - These are fitted to all my dog's collars before walks.
Business ID Tags - These are also fitted to all dog's collars, they contain our business name and phone number.
Social Media - Although our posts indicate 'East Lothian', I will never tag your dog at a location in my social media posts. The last thing I want to become is predictable to any potential dog thieves. Personally I don't think it's sensible to tag dogs in the same location weekly, we don't want to create a pattern and for thieves to know that on Wednesday mornings we go to Tynninghame beach for example.
Varied Routes - Again, where possible, I try to vary our walking routes as much as possible to avoid becoming predictable. I always let someone trusted know where we are walking.
No Recall, No Release - Your dog is on lead until an excellent recall has been established and only with prior consent from you.
Personal Alarm - Yes, I carry one. This tiny key ring attachment offers me some peace of mind. It's an excellent little device that sounds a blaring alarm if I pull the trigger, the idea is that it may frighten someone off if they approach.
Hollie Guard App - I've had this for years and it's a great tool. It's simple to download and with a quick shake of the phone it alerts your chosen contacts to your location and automatically records video and audio evidence. Of course there's always the risk that you shake it when you're eating your dinner or in the gym but it's better to be safe than sorry
It's infuriating that we live in a society where we have to think about our safety to such an extent, after all, you are never responsible for the actions of a perpetrator intent on causing you fear, alarm or harm. Despite this, I feel more secure when I have an awareness of some of the things I can do to keep my pack safe.
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