Dog display team's stunt equipment stolen (From Daily Echo)
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Dog display team's stunt equipment stolen
3:30pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News
By Emma Streatfield, Senior Reporter
Members of the Fair Oak Dog Display Team.
RUNNING through tunnels and leaping fences, these furry friends perform tricks earning vital cash for good causes.
But the Fair Oak Dog Display Team has been left out of pocket after thieves stole its stunt equipment.
And it says the charities that it performs for will now lose out.
The volunteer-run group runs fun weekly sessions for dog owners to teach their dogs basic obedience training and more advanced agility skills.
But it also does a number of dog agility displays at dog shows and two of its own dog shows during the year, raising money for a chosen charity.
Last year it was the Second Chance Animal Rescue in Southampton, for which it raised £800, and this year it is the Cinnamon Trust, which works for the elderly, the terminally ill and their pets to preserve that relationship between owner and pet.
Although the group is determined to continue its dog show programme it is now limited to what stunts it can do.
It also means money and time will have to be spent replacing it – money that would otherwise have gone to the charity.
“They have not robbed us, they have robbed the charities really because that’s what we do it for,” said club treasurer Sally Powell.
She appealed to the public to help if they have any spare equipment they could use.
The 15ft box trailer was taken from the group’s training base in a field off Allington Lane, Fair Oak, near its crossroads with Dean Road.
The thieves cut a padlock to open the gate and a chain that attached the trailer to a metal post and removed a wheel clamp.
The trailer is dark green, with Fair Oak Dog Display Team written on both sides in red and gold lettering and through one ‘O’ a gold dog is jumping through the hoop.
Police confirmed they are investigating the incident, which happened sometime between 6pm on February 21 and 9am on February 23, and that marks at the scene suggested the trailer was towed away.
Anyone with information is asked to call Eastleigh police on 101.
