Gardaí have arrested two males in relation to the theft of a dog, property of a Co. Cork farmer.
The individuals are being brought before the courts in relation to the matter, according to Gardaí.
Last July, An Garda Síochána launched an appeal on social media to help reunite two suspected stolen dogs with their owners. According to Gardaí, the appeal reached some 1.7 million.
First dog
Gardaí issued the following statement last summer when it began this investigation.
“Shortly after 7.30 pm on July 13th, Gardaí from Castleconnell Garda Station were following up on reports of suspicious activity in the car park on Old Dublin Road, Limerick.”
“Gardaí spoke to two men who had two male springer spaniel dogs in their possession. When Gardaí enquired about their ownership of the dogs, the two men were unable to provide information that Gardaí were satisfied with. They also informed Gardaí that the dogs were microchipped.”
“Both dogs were very nervous, cowering in their cage, so a decision was made by Gardaí to seize them for their welfare pending the verification of ownership. Both dogs were seized and brought to Henry Street where they were housed in the kennels at the rear of station.
A local vet came and scanned both dogs for microchips which returned negative for both. The vet believed the two springer spaniels were males roughly 3-4yrs and 18mths or so and were in good condition.
“One of the men later attended Henry Street and produced documentation which Gardaí believe are fraudulent.”
The two dogs were then brought to a local animal shelter whilst Gardaì carried out further enquiries.
One of the dogs, the older of the two, was been reunited with its owner. The dog is believed to have been stolen on June 24th in Co. Cork.
The owner had placed adverts online and posters around their area in an attempt to get back their pet.
Gardaí brought Jake out to the owner’s home and were satisfied with the owner’s description of the dog and its excitement, awareness of his surroundings, and location of his kennel.
‘I had lost hope’
Jake’s owner, Gerard, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to get Jake back. I had lost hope because he was gone for so long.”
“I tried everything to get him back – I tried social media and put up posters locally. I am extremely grateful to Garda Shane Hayes and Limerick Animal Welfare for looking after Jake and getting him home safely.”
Second dog
Gardaí attempted to reunite the second dog with its owner and appealed to anyone who can help get him home.
In an update on social media on Monday (November 16th), Gardaí confirmed that the second owner could not be traced and the dog was adopted.
Protect your pets
Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Ber Leetch, said: “As we are hearing a lot about dog theft, it can make dog owners feel unsafe and worried about their beloved pets. We would advise you to take extra precautions for their safety.”
“For your dog’s security, I would recommend they are microchipped so that they can be easily identified if found and returned to the owner. Also, place contact details on their collar in the event that they escape.”
“Ensure that your home and garden are secure to prevent theft and deter potential culprits.”
“If you have a high-value breed of animal you may wish to consider CCTV and other crime prevention measures. If you are buying a dog, or returning a dog to its suspected owners, make sure the person is bona fide,” she concluded.
