For anyone who doesn't live in the UK, dog theft is REALLY common here. They take them for bait, or to breed, or to resell, especially if they are expensive-looking dogs (my dog looks purebreed, but he isn't). And I live in an old people's area, and such areas are really common to target because old people can't fight back.

SO anyway, my mum takes the dog for his final walk at about 7pm every day, and she did that today, and I heard her come back and I heard her talking outside the house, so I went to look out the window and see what she was doing and she was talking to a pair of women who had, apparently, got lost and needed directions. They were driving a white transit van, and the door was open, and they were distracting my mum. They had apparently been following her around the neighbourhood. All these are huge red flags, and pretty common in reported dog thefts.

I stormed out there in my pyjamas FREAKInG OUT. I grabbed the dog and my mum was like WTF, completely oblivious. As soon as I had the dog and walked him away, the women in the car promptly shut up and left, as if they knew they didn't stand a chance of getting him. I don't think they expected to see someone young and able-bodied. They were preying on my mum because she is older and pysically disabled.

I dread to think what would have happened if I hadn't gone out there. Honestly I think they were seconds away from grabbing him. There's every chance it could have been a completely innocent encounter, but everything they did is typical signs of dog theft. There were so many red flags.

In future, I'll be going with my mum on her evening dog walks. We will be EXTRA vigilant.

But yeah, that was my panic of the day, and honestly I feel really jittery now, like what if they come back? I might look young and active but I am pysically weak as a kitten lmao. I can't fight anyone off if they decide to break in.

We would have called the police, but we didn't get a reg number. I was too busy making sure the dog was safe in the house, and the van drove away super quick.

NIGHTMARE :O