Mark Callis, Wandsworth Council's animal welfare manager, tells Nub News readers how to keep their dogs safe.

London led the 'Pandemic Puppy' trend, with dog ownership rising 141 per cent over the course of a locked down 2020. For dog owners - old and new alike - lucky enough to live locally to Clapham Common, the enjoyment of walking Fido across its fields becomes tempered if there is a sense his safety might be at risk.

Mark Callis, the animal welfare manager for Wandsworth Council, has shared the best ways to reduce that risk and keep our beloved, local dogs safe.

In the first instance, Callis has encouraged dog owners to be wary about what information they give to strangers. He cites instances where people pretended to be police in order to steal dogs.

He said: "The lockdown saw a big increase in the popularity of puppies – and their value. Having your pet stolen can be devastating, but there are some steps you can take to reduce the risk.

"Sometimes people pretend to be from the police, the council or the RSPCA and try to seize your dog, but it's extremely rare that either the police or an animal welfare officer would take your dog from you whilst you are out exercising it.

"Seizure can only usually take place with a court order or warrant, which should be served upon you. The exception would be if something serious or dangerous had happened. Always ask for ID.

"Do not give any personal information about your dog to a stranger such as name or breed. When your dog's off its lead, make sure you can always see it.

"Try and ensure that it is always a responsible adult that walks the dog. Keep your dog's microchip details up to date.

"Report any incident of theft to the police and your dog's microchip data base provider.

"You should also report it to us at the council's Animal Welfare Service. We have regular contact with many dogs and owners across the borough, and scan dogs on a regular basis.

"We would also ask dog owners to make sure your dog has a reliable recall when you let them off. Dogs should be kept on leads except in a designated park or open space. keep dogs on leads around the local wildlife and make sure your dog is wearing its collar and identification tag."

Contact the team at 020 8871 7606 or 07860 534733 or email [email protected]

Find out more about the Wandsworth animal welfare team on the Wandsworth website.

Watch videos about looking after your dog on the council's You Tube channel WandsworthBC

Have a story in Clapham you want to share with us? Email [email protected], call 07742 524 934 or tweet @IssyMillett.

Find all the latest news from Clapham on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.