Horsham dog lover’s warning after fears men were trying to steal ‘adorable’ puppy

A Horsham dog lover is urging people to be on their guard after two ‘intimidating men’ pulled up next to her and her ‘adorable’ puppy.
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Lauren Barnes, 27, said she was out walking Bentley, her 13-week-old Golden Retriever puppy in Charington Way, Broadbridge Heath, when two men wearing hats began staring at her four-legged friend.

She said: “They were so fixated on him. It happened so quickly. I just found the situation really weird.”

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The men pulled up close to Lauren and Bentley, and one opened the passenger door. The business development manager said she gathered Bentley in her arms and took her phone out to try and snap a picture of the men after fearing they may try to steal her pup.

Lauren Barnes with her puppy BentleyLauren Barnes with her puppy Bentley
Lauren Barnes with her puppy Bentley

Lauren added: “As I did that they shut the door and sped off. I was just concentrating on getting away from the situation.

“It sped off at quite some speed. It was just pretty surreal really.”

Research from animal charity Dogs Trust has shown the cost of puppies has soared since early last year. Demand for dogs is at an all-time high, with Google searches for ‘buy a puppy’ increasing by 115 per cent since before lockdown began in March, according to the charity.

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Lauren said she bought Bentley for £3,000, which was ‘one of the cheaper’ adverts. The animal lover added that she spent time researching puppies and had wanted a dog for years before buying Bentley. She avoided puppy farms because she ‘didn’t want to be part of the problem’. Lauren added: “You can’t put a price on him. I just love him. He’s adorable.”

She said if Bentley was stolen it would break her heart and wanted to raise awareness about the risk of dog theft.

In a message to other dog owners, Lauren added: “Be vigilant. Keep your wits about you when you go out.

“If you don’t have to go out alone I wouldn’t. Me and my partner would normally go out together.

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“Just be careful and don’t be naive to the fact that it’s happening.”

Last month Sussex Police said it is taking action to prevent dog theft as soaring prices for pets during lockdown sparked a rise in cases nationally.

A police spokesman added: “Reports of dog theft are thankfully relatively low in Sussex but police do ask dog owners to take necessary steps to keep them safe.

“Sussex Police recorded 31 dog thefts in 2020, but at least 12 of those were disputes over dog ownership between known parties.”

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Inspector Andrea Leahy, from the Rural Crime Team, slammed dog theft as an ‘abhorrent crime’.

She said: “Criminals selfishly steal beloved pets from their families - sometimes to exploit these poor creatures by selling them on at inflated prices or breeding them for monetary gain.

“The emotional impact of a missing dog is considerable, with victims left bereft and searching for their much-loved family member, in some cases not knowing whether they have been lost or taken.”
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne added: “Pets quickly become part of our family and the impact of these crimes is often devastating, leaving an unbearable sense of loss.

“While reports to the police in Sussex do not appear to be showing an upward trend in this area, you only have to look on social media to know that dog theft is a big concern for residents.