Who stole Tally?

[Jack Merlin]

Tally, a field trial champion English pointer, was stolen from her kennel in the West Country last year and, thanks to widespread publicity, was recovered straying in Lancashire.

I was consulted at the time because I have exported a lot of dogs over the years. My opinion was that the dog had not been exported. It was microchipped and the chip would have been located when the dog was examined for export. No thief could afford that risk. Even someone exporting the dog personally, in his car, could be checked and caught.

Nor do I think the thief was a field trialer because the dog was too well known in trial circles.

I am afraid that leaves a falconer as a prime suspect. Have you heard any rumours? Know anything? Please let me know so we can stop these dog thefts.

But who was it?

Picture at http://www.doglost.co.uk/data/Registered/tally%

There's a lesson here for everyone. Get your dog microchipped and take pictures -- front, back, and both sides. If the dog goes missing, post the details here. If it is recovered, post the story to deter other thieves.

[Hawkmaster]

Link not working Sir, does one have to be registered to see it?

[Finnish]

Hey Jack that link dose not work for me.??

[Falconry Equipment International]

Hi Jack The breeder ( & Very well known trialler) of my English Setter reackons a a suspicious guy( with hindsight) was at a trial that this pointer was before it was stolen ( if it was the one from Truro) He claimed , when speaking to her that he was an ex army (SAS so he reckoned!) officer and had a piut on posh accent and she saw through him with his accent as she was born & bred in Lancashire( she doesn't live there any more) and she picked up his lancastrian accent. Obviously this does not proove guilt, but at least it may be a lead
regards
J

[Jack Merlin]

Sorry, can't make the link work. I tried to log into that forum some time ago, made a mess of it, then it kept saying someone else was using the same email address (me of course!) -- so I gave up!

For the picture, go to http://www.doglost.co.uk and click on the link for lost/found dogs, then female pointers.

[Varmint]

Good advise Jack, for some folk it must be like having your childern kidnapped?

Some people are even resorting to ear tattoo's on their dogs, and im giving it a lot of consideration myself?

I shudder to think about it, but glad the owner got her back ok.

What is this world coming to eh? :shock: :roll:

[Falconry Equipment International]

Varmint
yes good idea and to have your dogs chipped as well( mine have both) however as in Bop and all other animals all these security measures is confirm that you are the owner, ie won't nec get you animal back, I've had 3 experiences over the years that prove this 1 lost a pup (chipped) dog warden picked up and when I contacte dthem I was charged £35 as she didn't have a collar! when I asked about their chip scanner they said the battery was flat!,2 Gos was stolen about 5 years ago, 3 F Pere lost flying, both never to be seen again.regards
J

[Jack Merlin]

From the posts, the assumption seems to be that Tally was dumped by someone living in the area where the dog was found. I don't think that would necessarily be so. Wouldn't the thief travel a bit in case the dog "homed" back to his own address? Or he was seen tipping the dog out of a vehicle and recognised?

Anyway, by coincidence, I got some wierd emails from a man who lives about 50 miles away from where the dog was picked up. This person was extremely pushy and did his best to impress me that he had plenty of money. He told me that he owned a falcon, a pointer, a holiday cottage in Scotland, and seemed to spend his time travelling around taking bits of hawking all over the place. On the other hand, he clearly knew nothing about dog training! He seemed very odd indeed, and I have met a few!<g>

In a short while, this unpleasant character was insisting that he would visit me. I was amazed, after all his rudeness he clearly felt he would be welcomed as my guest! I had to be very rude indeed to put him off!

It is only recently that I have thought about who might steal a champion pointer. It has to be someone with a dimished ego who thinks he can buy everything if he flashes enough money about. (I doubt if Tally would be for sale at any price).

Anyone who knows anything about pointers will know that an experienced breeder can recognise various strains of pointers by sight. No need for micro-chips!

I would also think it is someone who has visited the kennel in question. The countryside has too many eyes and ears for someone asking directions to go unnoticed -- at least around here. So it is someone who attends field trials.

I am quite sure someone reading this will have heard rumours. Obviously, these must be treated in confidence (a good journalist always protects his sources) so email me privately, but the truth might start to emerge if the coincidences are found to match up. Nothing scares these thieves more than the prospect of being discovered.

BTW, all my own dogs are chipped and I have CCTV at the end of a cul-de-sac. Not only that but I am known to be completely mad and any would be thief will most certainly end up in the dogs' boiler if I catch him!!<vbg>

[Bod]

I take it that any would be thief would have their testicles cut off with a blunt pen knife first Jack, before you put them in the boiler.

Nice one. Best form of justice :D

[Jack Merlin]

I take it that any would be thief would have their testicles cut off with a blunt pen knife first Jack, before you put them in the boiler.

Nah. Waste of good protein, mate. I just toss them in, entire, par-boil for half an hour, then let the dogs do their best while he's still wriggling Makes Brave Heart look a bit tame!!!<vbg>

[Bod]

Nice one Jack PMSL