The RSPCA has responded to reports of suspicious individuals posing as officers in order to take people's dogs.

Concern has risen amongst dog-owners in recent months about dog thefts, with warnings about strange vans at popular dog-walking spots and chalk or paint markings left on homes where dogs live gaining attention.

Barry resident Amanda Wells said she had encountered an individual posing as an RSPCA worker at Butts Field two weeks ago, when her nephew took her two dogs for a walk at The Butts Fields.

"This guy came up to my nephew and said that he was from the RSPCA. He was trying to take the lead from him," said Amanda.

"My nephew could see a van in the distance, which had a blue sticker on it. But he said 'no, you're not having them, they're mine'.

"The man kept saying he had to take them. Eventually my nephew said 'listen mate, just do one!'

"It frightened him a lot, he's 19-years-old and he didn't want to go up to the field by himself, just in case something happened," she said.

Amanda and her nephew reported the incident to the police immediately and she has seen advice shared online by other dog-owners.

"It was very intimidating," said Amanda.

"There's a few of us that walk up there every day, and we've been chatting about what we're bringing to protect ourselves just in case.

"One woman says she has Deep Heat, and another has a baseball bat, which she used to bat balls for her dogs.

"Others are clipping their dogs to them. But it's still a worrying thing to think that this is this is happening," she said.

RSPCA Cymru said they were aware of incidents such as this, describing them as "extremely worrying".

"We want to ensure that the public, their animals and our own staff are safe, and that our officers can continue to carry out their vital work without being compromised by bogus officials," said a spokesperson.

"We've been made aware of a number of incidents in different areas of the country in which people have been targeted in their own homes or while out walking their dogs. In some cases, police have been made aware of the circumstances and we've also been informed.

"Thankfully, there have been only a handful of incidents that have been officially reported.

"However, we're aware that many alleged incidents circulating on social media may not have been actual cases of people trying to pass as bogus officials and, in some cases, our own officers have been stopped in their work vehicles and asked to prove they are genuine staff members.

"Please refrain from sharing claims about bogus officials or images of alleged fake vans or officers on social media unless the warning has come from a legitimate source, such as the RSPCA or local police.

"Unfortunately, we've been made aware of some incidents in which the public have assumed a genuine officer is a fake officer and have posted their number plate on social media which can lead to safety concerns for our staff."

What genuine RSPCA inspectors would and would not do:

• The RSPCA does not investigate reports of stolen pets; this is a criminal matter dealt with by police. An RSPCA officer would never approach anyone in public or at their home address following up on claims that the animal is stolen. If someone purporting to be from the RSPCA does so then we would encourage you not to engage and to report this to police on 101.

• There are very few incidents whereby a genuine RSPCA officer will approach someone out in public, unless they happen to have witnessed animal cruelty themselves there and then, or if they see an animal in immediate danger (e.g. a dog shut inside a hot car on a summer's day outside a shop); almost all of our officers will approach people by visiting their home address and knocking on their door.

• RSPCA officers have no powers of entry or removal, meaning our staff can only access your property with your consent or if they're accompanied by police with a warrant. They cannot remove your animals unless they have your consent or police seize that animal on their behalf.

If you do not want to give an officer access to your property, you do not have to. If you'd like to clarify who they are before allowing them into your home please ask to see their ID or contact our national hotline on 0300 1234 999 (using option 1 which says 'responding to a card left by the RSPCA') will put you through to call handlers quickly in order to check credentials.

• RSPCA officers will be wearing RSPCA branded clothing which may include a white branded shirt, navy blue branded fleece or coat, and will be carrying RSPCA identification. Most officers drive white vans that are either wrapped in branding or have small navy RSPCA logos on the side and rear of the vehicle (although some officers can remove these signs for their own safety).

• An outgoing phone call from our national control centre will never display on your phone as 0300 1234 999; if you receive a phone call from this number please do not give any personal details and report the incident to police on 101.

The Vale of Glamorgan dog warden advised dog-owners to be vigilant.

"We have had reports about people impersonating RSPCA officers, but it is a police matter because it's fraud," he told Nub News.

"My advice would be vigilant and try to go out in pairs or groups during the day and avoid less-populated areas."

A statement from Assistant Chief Constable Jo Maal said that South Wales Police have increased patrols and conducted investigations to tackle dog theft operations.

"We are aware of growing concern about dog thefts amongst our communities," said ACC Maal.

"There is some evidence nationally that the pandemic has seen criminals adjusting their activities and taking advantage of the increased demand for pets. Widespread reporting of the increased cost of pets is also believed to be fuelling this.

"It is a concern and a potential emerging issue that we as a force are taking seriously, and we fully appreciate the devastating impact such a crime can have on victims.

"However, at this stage we would like to stress that the number of reported thefts in our force area remains low.

"Our advice to pet owners is to remain vigilant but not alarmed.

"Many reports on social media are unfounded, and while they are often shared by well-meaning people hoping to raise awareness, it often raises fear and spreads misinformation and myth.

"We would appeal to the public to report incidents and suspicious activity to us, so that we can fully investigate and also build a picture of potential growing trends.

"In addition to responding to reports, we are taking a proactive approach to tackling this issue and allaying public concern.

"We work closely with neighbouring forces and other partners, have increased patrols and visibility in areas of concern and conducted local intelligence-led operations.

"Advice on preventing dog thefts, keeping your pets safe, and purchasing pets can be found on various animal welfare charity websites, including the Blue Cross and Dogs Trust."

To report incidents and suspicions, contact 101 or report online https://bit.ly/SWPReportOnline