Someone tried to steal Harley!

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by SWHouston

All the more reason to identify those (specially children) to their Parents and Authorities, regardless of what punitive actions may be taken. I'm not saying that every kid that "errs" like that should go to jail, BUT, those tendencies should be noted and monitored, by someone, BESIDES the victims.

Sadly, sometimes an incident is the only thing that gets the attention of the parents enough to address the issue. So many kids are basically raising themselves and it's easy for parents to turn a blind eye to issues. I agree that whatever has to be done to stop a kid before they really hurt someone or themselves has to be done.

[sganow]

Unfortunately, I have a feeling that these kids had nothing but bad intentions for the dog. If they had a shovel, I honestly believe they planned to torture and kill the poor little thing! I hope they don't end up getting someone's dog and succeeding with that plan. I hope they are caught, or at the very least, that they don't ever return to try to steal the dog again. Be careful!

[SWHouston]

Originally Posted by gracielove

So many kids are basically raising themselves and it's easy for parents to turn a blind eye to issues.

Yes, what really scared me, were those Shovels as well. That's a dead give away, that they were trying and PRE-meditating killing the animal.

[SWHouston]

Darn that 5 minute rule...

Anyway, I would also consider closing the spaces on the Fence possibly with an Expanding Metal Skirt across the back, or, adding posts to limit what could be pushed through. Something to limit one of the sticking a Shovel through and striking the animal.

[waldosmom]

Sorry for not responding my daughter came down with the flu, which ended in me being down with the flu for the last 2 days. I have noticed a lot of yorkies being stolen in the Phoenix area, I check Craigslist and stuff for missing dogs, found someone's pup and returned it to them on Craigslist! And there are like 5 ads recently that people are saying their yorkies are stolen, it's so sad.

Even though we have only had Harley 2 weeks I would have been devastated he sleeps with me every night and goes everywhere with us. He is NEvEr outback alone, unfortunatly we have an hoa and we aren't allowed to put in a solid fence but my neighbor just put up some grass looking stuff kind of hard to explain it looks like a tiki hut cover and it goes up about 4 feet on the fence and ,ales it so no one can see in, I plan on asking him next time I see him where he got it, so we can get some and get a little added protection.

I didn't recognize the kids, but there is a walking path behind our house that connects two neighborhoods so they could be from the other area we don't go too

[cowgirlc]

Wow, just reading all of this. I am so glad your baby is ok and you went out there in time. I'll tell you , the only time Gizmo is out of my sight, is when, I actually leave home without him, which is very rare. He goes everywhere with me because I am a home body that lives in the country, so I never go any further than to our small shopping area, where everyone already knows him.

I have a deck porch and I do n't care who opens the door to go in or out, he will never step out there before looking up at me for approval, and then my porch is gated so he cannot go down the stairs at all unless I open the gate.

Only other pet lovers understand what these little fur balls mean to a family, they are in fact a member of the family and we protect them as such. Its a shame that we have to forever be on constant guard with them because of the world we live in today, but to turn your back for even a second could be tragic.

Again, so glad you and your baby are ok.

Cynthia & Gizmo

[scrapindee]

It was a good thing you went out when you did.

I would contact the police, especially if you know who the kids are or where they live. Their parents would surely be held accountable.

[BlueBelle]

I recently saw in a catalog a product that you can add on your fence that makes it look like solid greenery, bush or ivy looking. That would keep people from seeing in until they got up close enough to look over the fence.

[SWHouston]

Originally Posted by waldosmom

my neighbor just put up some grass looking stuff kind of hard to explain it looks like a tiki hut cover and it goes up about 4 feet on the fence and ,ales it so no one can see in, I plan on asking him next time I see him where he got it, so we can get some and get a little added protection.

I didn't recognize the kids, but there is a walking path behind our house that connects two neighborhoods so they could be from the other area we don't go too

Ukkk, HOA, I know them well !

Great idea on the "foliage" along the back.
Also, depending on how big Harley is (how agile) you might even put up a small "interior" fence, like a border on a flower bed completely across the back. That's tall enough and will prevent him from coming any closer than a few feet from the fence. Like a no-man's land.

As far as the foot traffic...
You could keep your Digital Camera and/or Cell Phone close to the back window, and take a picture of ANY kids which walk along the path. If you have just one picture of "the culprit", even if it's not when he's trying something, that will help the police ID him or his cronies.

[yorkietalkjilly]

If you haven't, I would call the police to alert them. It could be kids out for themselves or out working for adults to steal easy-to-get dogs in exchange for a few dollars. I'm so glad you went out when you did - just in time! I'm positive the same kind of thing almost happened to me and Tibbe! The first Christmas I had Tibbe I was standing on the back porch as Tibbe went outside to pee and I stepped inside the Utility Porch after a cold wind chilled me to the bone. I peeked back out the door, Tibbe was racing around chasing squirrels and having a ball in the cold wind(he loves cold weather) and I came into the den, sat by the huge window and just watched him living the life! Soon a small car came down the alley and slowed a bit as the 4 adult Yuppie-types smiled and leaned to look at Tibbe, drove on. I watched TV and Tibbe and called him to come in after a while but he stood in the middle of the yard in the wind as if to say "5 more minutes please mommie" and looked so determined to stay out playing as the squirrels were dancing along the fence tops and chirping, I gave in. I came back into the den by the big window, that car reappeared driving slowly but passed on by and in 2 minutes was back having turned at the end of the alley and come back a third time. It slowed to a stop right in back of my boat gate and a 30-something man and woman got out, started walking toward the gate latch. I tore from the den through the Utility Porch and out the back, saying something really loud - can't recall a word I said, and calling Tibbe, who had seen them coming in his direction back near the gate and started running back toward the house. He came to me immediately & I scooped him up, ran into the house, locked all the doors and sat again by the window and shook with Tibbe in my arms. This is what clinched the group's intent in my mind: The pair immediately turned as soon as I appeared in the back door, without a smile or a word, made for the car and the driver sped off fast! Now if they had been getting out to just admire Tibbe or check his breed specifics out up close, twirl fingers through the fence, etc., when they saw me they would have said something like "don't worry, we were just admiring your little dog and wanted to pet him through the fence" or something friendly, understanding my worry! Instead, they bolted and that driver floored it! I know they wanted to steal Tibbe!

I called the police and told them about it just in case they might be trolling our neighborhood for dogs, alerting police to their presence in the area at Christmastime. One doesn't usually suspect a newer, compact car full of Yuppies of anything criminal so they could just cruise around as long as it took if someone didn't know what just happened. Getting a cutie like Tibbe & other purebred dogs from the neighborhood to sell at some Christmas Fair or flea market could turn them some fast money that time of the year, I'm pretty sure. The Dispatcher thanked me, took all details of the car, sex/race/age of the people in it and said they would send a man out to check that car out and its reason for being in the neighborhood or something like that and said an officer would report to me, which I declined. I hope the PD did send a car and scared them away as I'm pretty certain 2 adult couples wouldn't be out cruising neighborhood alleys in cold, windy weather and acting the way they did, how they reacted when they saw me, had their motives been pure. Made me so mad and scared. What if I'd chosen that moment to go to the restroom, come back to the window and my little Tibbe no where on the premises - never to be seen again! Since then, I have key locks on both gates and I stay on the back porch with him & sometimes do step behind the door for a bit if it's very cold or raining until he's done his business and/or playing, but I'm always on alert if I see any people in that alley when he's outside and always just call him in immediately. After that episode, I realized how fast someone, child or adult, could jump over that fence/come thru that gate, corral Tibbe & be gone given the opportunity. So it always pays to be on guard nearby & able to call your dog in should people show up in your alley.

[SWHouston]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

If you haven't, I would call the police to alert them. It could be kids out for themselves or out working for adults to steal easy-to-get dogs in exchange for a few dollars.

RIGHT !, THAT'S WHAT THE SHOVELS ARE FOR !

Those kids could use them to dig a hole underneath the Fence, where they could pull the dog out and take it !

[Yorkiemom1]

I put chicken wire up against our wrought iron picket fence along our back yard that butts up against a golf course.....had to sneak and do it at midnoight so no one saw and reported me.......no one from the HOA or Civic Club could see the chicken wire on the wrought iron pickets, and it kept my babies from walking between the posts and joining the golfers on the 4th hole!

[SWHouston]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

had to sneak and do it at midnight so no one saw and reported me

I really have a genuine dislike for my HOA, but, it's better than it used to be. I just DO NOT understand why they don't come up to speed concerning some of the energy related improvements. My HOA insists on our Roofs being very dark (Green/Black/Rust) colors, and that just ask for doubling your Elec bill, even with the Foil backing and good insulation in your attic.

GURRRRRR

[Connie]

Thank goodness you went outside when you did. What a scary deal...and what were they carrying shovels for. I'm so thankful that Harley is home with you, where he belongs!

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by SWHouston

I really have a genuine dislike for my HOA, but, it's better than it used to be. I just DO NOT understand why they don't come up to speed concerning some of the energy related improvements. My HOA insists on our Roofs being very dark (Green/Black/Rust) colors, and that just ask for doubling your Elec bill, even with the Foil backing and good insulation in your attic.

GURRRRRR

Want to see something funny??? Go to them with plans to put solar panels on your roof....watch them keel over from shock!!!!!!!!!! I also went to mine with plans for one of those things you can put in your back yard that collects and stores solar energy, so much so that it actually makes your electric meter run backwards!!! I thought I was going to have to call an ambulance!!! Three of them almost died on the spot!