THE RSPCA has urged people to be vigilant after a man's encounter with a man suspected to be an illegal dog dealer.

Eric Phillips was at the Country Market car boot sale, near Kingsley, with his wife on July 7 when they were approached by a man with "a very frightened dog".

When Mr Phillips showed an interest in situation, he was asked if he would like to buy a dog.

He said, although he was "blessed with the wisdom of hindsight" and did not investigate the situation further, the incident caused he and his wife "some considerable concern".

"We were walking towards this man with a dog and as they passed I remarked to my wife that the dog did not look happy - almost as though it did not belong to its owner," Mr Phillips.