Hamilton woman reunited with stolen dogs

Oct 22 2009 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

TWO pet dogs put in SSPCA kennels as strays were last week reunited with their worried owner.

Marion Dodds of Hamilton was delighted to have her collie-cross Snoop and Jack Russell terrier-cross Tess back by her side.

The dogs had been at the centre of a fees row with the SSPCA.

Ms Dodds, of Dechmont Street, received a £500 bill to claim the dogs back from Bothwell Bridge Animal Centre after the pets were stolen from the garden of her home and dumped in Larkhall.

She had been trying for 13 days to get the dogs back, but was told she would have to pay the bill before they would be released.

However, following the intervention of the Advertiser, Strathclyde Police agreed to pay outstanding charges.

A delighted Marion said: “I couldn’t believe it when I got the phone call to go and pick my dogs up. They are my life and my company. It’s great to have them back.

“They have now been given an identi-chip and I won’t let them out of my sight again.

“I cannot thank the Advertiser enough and police for paying the daily-increasing fees.”

The pets, dog Snoop (4), and bitch Tess (3), were found by police in Larkhall on October 1, and taken to the Bothwell Bridge Animal Centre on Friday, October 2. Marion discovered that day the two dogs were in the kennels.

Marion said this week: “I’ve had Snoop and Tess since they were six weeks old. They were so excited to see me, but staff said I couldn’t have them back until I paid almost £200, at the time, which I couldn’t pay.

“I tried everything to get them back and finally contacted the Advertiser.”

Marion pleaded with police and the SSPCA, who run Bothwell Bridge Animal Centre, to make an exception.

For each day the SSPCA holds a stray dog the owner will be charged £13.50. This is on top of a one-off fee of £63.50. The fees were introduced on September 1 this year.

SSPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn, said: "Two dogs were brought into the care of the SSPCA by police and we had been caring for these dogs as strays on their instruction.”

Both police and SSPCA emphasise reclaiming charges are still in place for any owner seeking to reclaim a stray dog. The charge offsets some of the costs by encouraging responsible pet ownership and prevent animals allowed to stray.