A woman who was being threatened by people claiming to have her two dogs which were stolen from her farm has been safely reunited with her beloved pets. Jack Russell-Yorkshire terrier mix breeds Mopsy and Scrappy were stolen from Katie Shakeshaft’s farm on Camp Road in Garswood, near Wigan, last Wednesday afternoon (April 13).
Following the theft, Katie said she began receiving phone calls from people threatening to ‘slice their throats and throw them into the canal’ if she didn’t pay a £1,000 ransom. “I’ve had numerous phone calls from different people,” Katie previously said.
“I’ve had people telling me I’ll never see my dogs again. I was told that if I don’t pay £1,000 then they will slice their throats and throw them into the canal. It’s absolutely sickening. It’s causing me so much pain, it’s really concerning.”
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However, undeterred, Katie continued to search for her pets. Yesterday (April 21), Katie was contacted by Greater Manchester Police who informed her Mopsy and Scrappy had been found at a campsite in Bolton.
“When I got the call from the police, I did think it was another prank call,” Katie told the M.E.N today. “When they told me they’d found them, I was just in shock. I couldn’t stop crying but they were happy tears for a change.
“I’m honestly made up, I can’t even describe how I feel. These past few days, I’ve not been myself. I’ve been stressed out and constantly looking over my shoulder in fear. To have them home is just such a relief. I wasn’t giving up - I had to keep going on and on - because they rely on us. They can’t find us, we have to find them.
“As soon as the door opened, they were so happy to see me and were jumping all over me. It was an amazing feeling to see them again. They were a little bit shaken up at first, but after a few hours on the farm, they were back to their usual selves.”
Katie said she was grateful for the public’s help in trying to track down Mopsy and Scrappy, and championed the support she received from campaign group Justice For Reggie and the police.
“I just want to thank everyone who has supported me and kept me strong,” she added. “I can’t thank the police enough for what they’ve done - I’m lost for words really. There’s a group called Justice For Reggie who have not only helped me look for the dogs and share the appeal online but they’ve also supported me. The woman there, Ann, rang me everyday to check in with me and talk to me.
“There’s going to be lots of attention and hugs going towards Mopsy and Scrappy this weekend. I’m completely overwhelmed and I really appreciate everyone’s help in reuniting me with them.”
The theft is being investigated by Merseyside Police but acting on a tip-off from the public, officers from GMP's Bolton district recovered the dogs in Farnworth on Thursday (21 April).
The theft is being investigated by Merseyside Police but acting on a tip-off from the public, officers from GMP's Bolton district recovered the dogs in Farnworth on Thursday (21 April). Sergeant Faye Lowe, from GMP's Bolton district, said: "We received information about where the dogs were being kept - officers attended the location and found the dogs healthy but a little scared. We are really happy to have been able to reunite the dogs with their owner."
No arrests have been made and anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police quoting log 349 of 16 April 2022.
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