Men posing as fake RSPCA officers in Dorset try to take woman's dog
The RSPCA has now issued a warning
A warning's been issued to dog walkers in Dorset by the RSPCA.
Its after an incident involving two men posing as RSPCA officers attempted to steal a dog.
The animal welfare charity stressed that genuine RSPCA officers will always be wearing uniforms bearing the charity's logo, and will always carry identification.
Two men in a van approached a woman out walking her dog in the West Moors area of Dorset. They claimed to be from the RSPCA and asked to take her dog.
RSPCA Chief Inspector for Dorset and Wiltshire, Lewis Taylor, said:
"We would like to remind and reassure the public that all of our officers wear branded uniforms and carry issued RSPCA identification.
"If an RSPCA officer is in contact with you, or visits your home and you are unsure of their credentials, then please ask to see their official ID and look for the RSPCA badge on their clothing.
"If you have taken these steps and are concerned someone isn't who they say they are, you can always ring our national call centre on 0300 1234 999 for confirmation.
"If you believe someone is impersonating a member of our staff please report the incident to us and to your local police."
The incident in Dorset follows similar recent incidents in London and Yorkshire in which people pretended to be RSPCA officers in an attempt to access dogs.
Lewis added: "We're concerned that they may have been posing as RSPCA inspectors in order to snatch dogs, and that's extremely worrying.
"We understand that there have been a surge in the number of pet thefts during the past year due to the value of many breeds and the demand for pets during lockdown.
"We'd urge people to take extra precautions to protect their pets from thieves by neutering them, ensuring they're microchipped with up-to-date contact details registered and ensuring they wear a collar with an ID tag or embroidered contact details. We'd advise dog owners never to leave their pets tied up outside shops or alone in cars, to ensure their dog has a good recall and doesn't stray too far when being walked off-lead, and ensure gardens are secure with locked gates."
To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care please visit our website or call our donation line on 0300 123 8181.