Pet charity issues warning as puppy attacked by thieves

15/10/2007

Following a vicious attack on a three-month-old puppy, The Blue Cross is urging dog owners to prevent opportunistic thieves targeting their pets. Samson, a young Staffordshire bull terrier, was admitted to the charity’s animal hospital in Victoria, London where he quickly received treatment for a badly broken leg.

Samson was tied to a bench outside a shop near his home in Notting Hill while his elderly owner popped inside. Within minutes thieves tried to take Samson but were interrupted by a passer-by, who alerted the owner. The frustrated would-be thieves lashed out at the innocent puppy, kicking his leg with such force that it broke the bone. The injured puppy was immediately brought to The Blue Cross animal hospital for an operation to mend the break. Fortunately, he has now made a full recovery and The Blue Cross also ensured he was microchipped before he went home.

Samson’s owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I’ve been using that shop for years and thought it would be safe to leave Samson there for a few minutes. I don’t know how anyone could treat an innocent puppy that way. I’m so happy he is now back home with me and I’m really grateful to The Blue Cross for mending Samson’s leg and for all their advice they have given me. I want to make sure other people listen to their advice to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else, or their dog."

Jess Gower, Blue Cross chief veterinary surgeon at Victoria hospital said: "Samson was very traumatised by his ordeal but thankfully we have the resources here to operate quickly and we were able to fix him up and get him back home. We also fitted him with a microchip which we advise all pet owners do so that their pets can be tracked down if they go missing. We also want to remind pet owners that animals this young are particularly vulnerable to both theft and disease so ideally should be kept away from public areas or carried until they have had all their vital vaccinations."

The Blue Cross offers the following top tips to help prevent dog theft:

· Never leave your dog tied outside alone or in your car while you go shopping, however quick you might be

· Make sure your dog is wearing a collar and tag with your name and address details in case he goes missing

· Only let your dog off the lead if you know he will come back and make sure he remains close-by. For training tips see the ‘Training your dog’ leaflet available from www.allaboutpets.org.uk

· Ensure your dog is microchipped so that he can be traced back to you if found by a dog warden - and make sure you keep your contact details for microchips up-to-date if you move house

· Neuter your dog. Unneutered dogs are more likely to stray and are considered more valuable to thieves who want to sell the dog on for breeding purposes

ENDS

Notes to editors:

· Image of Samson available: 1) Recovering in hospital after the operation. 2) Recuperating at home.

· 2006 marked the centenary of The Blue Cross animal hospital in Victoria, it has never closed its doors to needy animals.

· The Blue Cross animal hospital, Victoria is the oldest hospital of its kind in the UK. It provides treatment and care for the pets of owners who cannot afford private vets’ fees and undertakes thousands of consultations every year. It was first established in 1906 and was the head quarters of The Blue Cross for many years. It was rebuilt in 1999 and officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen in November 2001. In recent years the services have extended to reach people and pets that may struggle to get to the hospital, including mobile veterinary clinics; a community vet nurse to make home visits; and an animal ambulance service to help transport animals to and from the hospital.

· To contact the hospital call 020 7932 2370. The hospital is open for appointments between 9.30 and 12 midday Monday to Friday and 2.30pm until 4pm Monday to Friday (except Wednesdays).

· The Blue Cross is Britain's pet charity, providing practical support, information and advice for pet and horse owners. Through its network of animal adoption centres it rehomes thousands of animals each year. Its hospitals provide veterinary care for the pets of people who cannot afford private vets' fees.

Media contact;
Louise Lee on 020 7932 4066 / 07880 781637 (out of hours) or louise.lee@bluecross.org.uk