Dog Thefts On The Rise

[WBA1955]

I have always been a against the dog breeders who keep dog's in filthy conditions for profit.
We have always had our pet's from animal rescue places.
That said dog stealing is a vile and upsetting crime and the punishment should fit it.
As for the travelling community I have friends who are Gypsies and they are some of the most helpful and generous you can get to know. If I walk in the local and any are in there is always a pint on the bar for me.
I always judge people as individuals and there are good and bad in all.
Treat people as you wish them to treat you.

[kettering_baggie]

The problem lies not with real gypsies but the (predominantly) Irish travellers, which is what we are plagued with around here. It’s not just around here, though, it’s everywhere and as mentioned, not genuine gypsies but the pikeys. They show nobody any respect around here and even if you are polite to them, they are unpleasant in response. I have never exchanged a civil word with any of them here. Before COVID, if there was a pikey funeral or wedding in the area, most of the pubs would either close or put bouncers on the entrance to keep them out.

[mickd1961]

I have always been a against the dog breeders who keep dog's in filthy conditions for profit.
We have always had our pet's from animal rescue places.
That said dog stealing is a vile and upsetting crime and the punishment should fit it.
As for the travelling community I have friends who are Gypsies and they are some of the most helpful and generous you can get to know. If I walk in the local and any are in there is always a pint on the bar for me.
I always judge people as individuals and there are good and bad in all.
Treat people as you wish them to treat you.

I’ve had them camped outside my business premises Des.......they actually s h I t on the road and pavement outside their caravan right next to my side gates.

Maybe you get a better class of pikey on your patch.

The sort I’m talking about don’t have wooden caravans pulled by horses they have large modern caravans pulled by stolen 4x4’s.

This lot aren’t rubbing crystal balls and selling pegs......there’s a big difference.

If the Irish lot park on the fields by your house you’ll have a very different feeling about them.


Top of der mornin to ya sir 😏

[Leicesterbaggie]

There's a huge difference between Travellers and Romany gypsies. From my experience Romany gypsies are law abiding and respectful, roaming our countryside, often in their colourful, horse drawn caravans, seeking work, fruit picking in season and to my mind adding to our heritage. Even if they have motorised vehicles they are still very 'house proud' and keep them in immaculate condition. Some of you may say that I'm looking through rose coloured spectacles but that's how I see it.

On the other hand, I have also had experience of Travellers. As recently as last summer they invaded our cricket ground. Our players were actually having a net practice when about a dozen caravans came through the open gates and parked on the outfield. They were aggressive and demanded money to leave. We obviously didn't pay them. The police were present but had no authority to move them on. After quite a few heated conversations we decided to contact a retired bailiff who lived in the village. He came down with 'official' documents, well they weren't really but they couldn't read, and he told the them that they had 24 hours to remove themselves.
It was now getting dark and we told them that we had security cameras in the pavilion so that any damage would be on camera. This was actually true. We just stayed there standing around when suddenly they just removed themselves from the ground. The police said that they had never seen this happen before. We were very lucky. Not pleasant people.