Chingford News

Pet owner told to take down missing dog posters by council

Officers call pictures of beloved pooch an ‘eyesore’, reports Victoria Munro, Local Democracy Reporter Waltham Forest Council has been […]By Local Democracy Reporting Service

French bulldog Tina was stolen from outside Chingford Morrisons on 7th May (Image courtesy of the family)
French bulldog Tina was stolen from outside Chingford Morrisons on 7th May (Image courtesy of the family)

Officers call pictures of beloved pooch an ‘eyesore’, reports Victoria Munro, Local Democracy Reporter

Waltham Forest Council has been criticised for asking a family whose dog was stolen to take down posters offering a reward for her return.

French bulldog Tina was stolen from a locked van parked at Chingford Morrisons shortly before 4pm on 7th May, while her owners shopped inside.

Devastated owner Patrycja Kowalczyk says the family and volunteers put up thousands of posters near Morrisons, around the borough and further afield in a desperate bid to find her.

However, on 24th May, they claim they received an “aggressive” phone call from a council officer, insisting the posters were an “eyesore” and must be taken down.

A council spokesperson said the council is “sorry to hear of the family’s loss” and will “continue to engage” with them, urging anyone with information to get in touch.

Patrycja, 21, said: “It did feel like we were being kicked in the face but we really don’t want any more trouble, we have started to comply.

“It’s quite a heartless thing to have to look at her face on that poster and rip it off, it’s not a request I would have made personally. 

“We do feel quite targeted, there’s posters up everywhere [of other missing pets], why have they decided to take action with Tina?”

While she has “not really kept records of exactly how many” posters went up in the borough, she estimates around 8,500 went up in total across south-east England.

She added: “We definitely did put a lot up around the Morrisons but I think that’s quite reasonable given it’s where she was stolen from. We didn’t put them up in other areas that much.

“We just wanted to work something out but everything we tried to throw at [the council] they completely rejected, they weren’t interested in any kind of compromise at all.”

She claimed the family was threatened with an unspecified fine, plus the cost of removing the posters, but not given an exact deadline of when this should be done. 

A council spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear of the family’s loss of their pet dog Tina. Our dog team has spoken with the family and offered advice and support.  

“We urge anyone with information to contact the owners who have offered a reward for the dog’s safe return.  We will continue to engage with the family on this matter.”

A Facebook group dedicated to finding Tina currently has more than 1,000 members. 


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