Your Pets Daily - stolen dogs

New offence to tackle dog theft moves step closer

Your Pets Daily Editor — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 08:40:03 +0000

Government announces plans to bring forward a new criminal offence for pet abduction in Kept Animals Bill
People who abduct dogs will face up to five years in prison, reflecting the emotional distress caused to both the owner and the dog
Today's announcement makes up part of the Government's response to the recommendations of the Pet Theft Taskforce

A new criminal offence to crack down on dog theft and put people who steal these much loved pets behind bars for up to five years has been set out in the Government's Kept Animals Bill today (Thursday 18th November).

The dog abduction offence, announced in September by Defra, will be added by the Government to the Kept Animals Bill, bolstering the raft of measures it already includes to further protect pets, livestock and kept wild animals.

Prior to this new offence, pet theft was treated as a loss of property to the owner. This new offence will take into account the emotional distress caused to both the owner and the dog and will help judges' ability to hand down more targeted penalties and sentences for pet thieves. A provision will also be made in the Bill to extend the offence to other pets in the future, should evidence support this.

By introducing this offence, the Government is following the recommendation of the Pet Theft Taskforce, launched in May 2021 to tackle a reported rise in pet thefts during the pandemic. Evidence shows that more than 2,000 incidents of pet theft were reported to the police last year, causing considerable distress for owners and their pets alike. For crimes recorded by police in which animals are stolen, around seven in 10 involve dogs.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said:

"The loss of a much-loved pet causes unique distress. I am pleased that we are legislating to recognise this specific crime.

"The new dog abduction offence will reflect the impact on animals in penalties for criminals, and deliver justice for victims."

Welcoming the introduction of the new offence, Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Christine Middlemiss said:

"The recognition of the distress caused to animals by pet theft is an important step forward, treating them as sentient beings rather than merely property.

"The new offence should build greater awareness of the significant impacts of dog theft on people and animals, and reassure pet owners that these crimes are being taken seriously."

David Bowles, Head of Public Affairs at the RSPCA, said:

"The theft of a pet is devastating and we're pleased the Government has announced these amendments which we hope will act as a real deterrent to those who carry out this crime. While the current proposed law applies to dogs, we are really pleased to see the Government has also recognised how much other animals mean to people as well, and put in provision to extend it to other pets. We hope this new law, which will see sentences up to five years, will help crackdown on the heart-breaking issue of pet theft."

Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust, said:

"Having your beloved pet stolen is an extremely stressful, often heart-breaking experience. For years, Dogs Trust has called for harsher penalties to deter those who profit from this despicable crime. We wholeheartedly welcome the measures the Government has taken today to tackle pet theft and prioritise the welfare of our pets as sentient beings, and very much hope that the increased sentencing will make pet thieves think twice."

The RSPCA has warned the public about the risk of thieves stealing beloved pets. Victims of this awful crime include French bulldog, Minnie, who was found badly injured and abandoned late at night in Burnley. RSPCA officers scanned her microchip and discovered she belonged to a family who lived 170 miles away in Gloucestershire. Minnie was reported as missing back in March 2020 after being taken from her owner's garden. She is now back at home with her family.

The police advises that dog owners should avoid leaving their pet unattended while out in public, vary their routines when walking their dogs and take basic security steps at home such as checking locks on doors and garden gates.

The new measures form part of the commitment to strengthen the UK's position as a global leader in animal welfare standards. Since 2010, the Government has brought in mandatory microchipping for dogs to help reunite lost dogs with their owners, introduced additional protection for service animals through 'Finn's Law', and introduced Lucy's Law to tackle puppy farming by banning the commercial third-party sales of puppies and kittens.

The Kept Animals Bill can be found here.

Today's announcement builds on the UK Government's commitment to revolutionise the treatment of animals in the UK and introduce measures to protect the welfare of animals abroad, as set out in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare.

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Owners fearful of Dog thefts with new survey revealing numbers are rising

Your Pets Daily Editor — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 19:37:44 +0000

TERRIFIED animal lovers are going to extreme lengths to protect their pooches after a huge rise in dognapping in Britain, a study shows.

Two in five dog owners are refusing to let their pet off the lead, a third won't take them out after dark, a third are worried about leaving them home alone, and one in seven are taking them for fewer walks.

The study, by Burns Pet Nutrition, shows that three-quarters of owners are concerned their pet will be stolen after a sharp rise in the price of dogs and in animal thefts over the past two years.

Since the start of lockdown last year, the number of dogs ownerships in the UK has gone up almost 50 per cent, from 9million to 12.5million and the cost of buying popular breeds has trebled.

In 2020 there were an estimated 2,355 cases of dog theft in Britain and that figure is expected to almost double this year because of a shortage of puppies for sale and a growing black market in stolen animals.

John Burns from Burns Pet Nutrition said: "We would like to see the laws changed to protect our pets. Anyone who owns a dog will tell you that they treat them like a family member. The current maximum sentence of seven years in prison for stealing a pet is far too light and these longer sentences are rarely given out. The government must introduce tougher sentences for those caught stealing pets."

"The new research has highlighted that pet owners are fearful of their beloved pets being taken. The numbers are shocking, and owners are right to be worried. Whilst thieves tend to target specific breeds, some will steal dogs simply to try and cash in on a reward. It's abhorrent and at Burns we feel the government must do more to curtail pet theft".

The most popular breeds targeted by dognappers are 1. Staffordshire Bull Terriers, 2. Chihuahuas, 3. French bulldogs, 4. Jack Russells, 5. Pugs.

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Stolen Pets. Pet Theft

The Farmer’s Dog partners with DogLost in throwback “missing” campaign

Your Pets Daily Editor — Sat, 07 Aug 2021 12:00:36 +0000

The Farmer's Dog has partnered with DogLost, a voluntary organisation helping stolen and missing dog owners, by launching a "missing" campaign reminiscent of the missing children milk carton campaign used in the USA in the 1980s.

The Farmer's Dog UK, a raw dog food company, will affix stickers with the profiles of six missing dogs produced by DogLost onto their mail order boxes.

Customers are invited to take a picture of the sticker and share on their social media channels to digitally help the search for the missing dogs. The stickers will be changed at the end of each month, so in a year The Farmer's Dog will highlight seventy-two stolen and long-term missing dogs.

Since the beginning of the pandemic the demand for four-legged friends has risen exponentially with workers and families spending more time at home and lacking social interaction. In the first six months of lockdown, it was estimated that 2m dogs were purchased within the UK.

This increase in demand has led to a rise in dog thefts, with the most sought-after breeds selling into the thousands of pounds.

DogLost, run solely by volunteers, have been overwhelmed with requests by grief-stricken owners who have reported their canine companions either lost or stolen. Penalties for dog-theft remain low so thieves are becoming more brazen with reports of dogs stolen from outside shops and even direct from owner's gardens.

DogLost recommend the below five theft prevention tips to help safeguard against dog theft during the summer holidays:

· Microchip your dog - microchipping is now required by law. This ensures that your dog can easily be identified and returned to you if they get lost or stolen.

· Social media settings – consider making your social media accounts private as thieves can easily identify targets through these channels.

· Stay alert – beware of strangers and do not let your dog off the lead unless you are sure that they will return.

· Security - make sure your garden is secure and that any gates are locked or have an alarm. Do not leave your dog outside alone for any length of time.

· Insure your dog – and consider policies that include 'missing pet cover'

Brian Balston, The Farmer's Dog commented,

"The Farmer's Dog are excited to launch our "missing" campaign with DogLost, a voluntary organisation which does incredible work in returning dogs to their owners. We have a nationwide customer base of dedicated dog owners; we are excited to be working with DogLost and we hope that our collaboration helps dogs returned to their rightful owners."

Justine Quirk, DogLost said:

"With dog ownership in the UK at an all-time high, unfortunately so is dog theft. Last year we had 465 reported thefts and to date in 2021 we have had 254 reported stolen."

We are delighted that The Farmer's Dog came to us with their "missing" campaign concept which, with the benefit of social media, can only help us in our mission to reunite stolen dogs with their owners."

www.thefarmersdog.uk

www.doglost.co.uk

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How to protect against dog theft

Your Pets Daily Editor — Tue, 11 May 2021 07:06:32 +0000

Dog theft is sadly on the up, with estimates showing that seven dogs were stolen a day in 2020 – a 170 per cent increase from 2019. Due to the sharp rise in demand for puppies during the pandemic, and the resulting surge in prices, criminals are seeing dog theft as an easy way to make a lot of money. Despite this, dog thefts do remain uncommon.

Blue Cross is working hard to put pressure on the government and police forces around the country to do more to protect our beloved dogs from these callous thieves, but there are also important steps that owners should take to help keep their pets as safe as possible while maintaining the routines that keep them happy and healthy.

Ways to protect your dog from theft

Identification

Make sure your dog is microchipped and that you keep your contact details up-to-date, especially if you move home or change your telephone number. All puppies in the UK must legally be microchipped by eight weeks.
Your dog should always wear a collar and ID tag with your name and address on it. This is a legal requirement when your dog is in a public place. A mobile number is also a good idea, as well as confirmation they are microchipped. If your dog is neutered, having this on their ID tag may also deter thieves looking to steal dogs to breed from.
Do not put your dog’s name on their collar, harness or ID tags – it makes it easier for thieves to lure them in if they know their name
Take clear photographs of your dog from various angles and update them regularly, before and after any grooming trips. Make a note of any distinguishing features.
Have lots of photographs of yourself with your dog, to help you to prove ownership if needed

Out and about

Beware of strangers asking you questions about your dog, bending down to stroke them or vehicles slowing down around you
Vary your times of walks and routes; some dogs are targeted and snatched during walks after being watched previously
Consider walking in pairs, where possible, but keep your focus on your dog
Stay aware of your surroundings and avoid distractions such as mobile phones
Never leave your dog tied up outside a shop, no matter how safe the neighbourhood seems. This makes them a tempting target for opportunist thieves.
Do not leave your dog alone in a car at any time – not only can they quickly overheat and die, even in dull weather, thieves can break into a vehicle and snatch them in seconds
Never let them off the lead if you are not sure they will come back to you. If in doubt, use a long lead, also known as a long line, to build up recall, especially if you are in an unfamiliar area where your dog may get lost more easily.
Make a note of emergency SOS shortcuts on your mobile phone
Consider carrying an alarm device. These can be scary for your dog so only activate in an emergency or test when they’re not close by.
GPS pet trackers which attach to your dog’s harness or collar may help

At home

Keep your dog in view in the garden, don’t just leave him outside unsupervised. Front gardens are particularly vulnerable to dog thieves.
Make sure your garden is secure to keep your dog in and lock any gates. Fit a bell to the gate so you hear if anyone opens it.
CCTV may help to deter thieves

When leaving them in other people’s care

Take care when choosing someone to care for your dog if you are going away from home or need a dog walker while you go to work. Use a reputable company or boarding kennels and check references for people who provide dog or house-sitting services.

Social media

Avoid putting too much information about your dog, such as where you live and work. Keep privacy settings in mind.
If you’re visiting a new place, wait until you’re home to tag locations
When posting pictures, be sure to blur out any identification tags
Remain suspicious of strangers asking lots of questions online

Other things to bear in mind

Neutering: Many dogs are stolen by thieves hoping to breed from them and sell puppies. Neutering your dog may deter these types of criminals and has a number of other health benefits as well as reducing the likelihood of roaming.
If you breed puppies for sale, take great care when inviting people in to view; ideally, have someone else present and limit the numbers of people you allow in at a time. Show the puppies in one secure area.
Decide who owns the dog in your household. Discuss who would own the dog in the event of bereavement or break up and draw up documentation to this effect. This may seem unnecessary, but pets can become the centre of ownership disputes in these circumstances.

If the worst happens and your dog is stolen

Act quickly! If your dog is suspected to have been stolen, dial 999. Insist that police record it as a theft rather than a lost animal and get a crime reference number.
Report the loss/theft to the microchip database, this will ensure that if anyone tries to re-register the chip number, you will be informed
Report the loss to your local council’s dog warden and those in all other neighbouring local authorities
Visit places where dog walkers go such as local parks and public places and talk to people, asking them to keep an eye open for your dog
Make posters and display them in areas local to your home and also in relevant places such as vets, local parks etc. The poster should include a clear photograph and details of the circumstances.
Put out appeals on social media as soon as possible and encourage friends and family to share them far and wide
Consider calling your local newspaper and media outlets to publicise the theft and warn others to be on the lookout for your dog and similar cases
Make sure local vets are aware in case someone takes your dog in for treatment
Report the loss on as many as possible of the missing animal websites – there is no single national missing animals database, so you will have to place the same information on all of them to ensure a widespread appeal
Contact local animal shelters and rescue charities and send them posters to display
Losing a pet due to theft or other reasons is a traumatic event. Blue Cross is here to provide support with our Pet Bereavement Support Service which can be contacted on 0800 096 6606 (8.30am – 8.30pm) or by email pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk.

If you found this article instresting you may also like to read Taskforce launched to investigate reported rise in pet thefts

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Your Pets Daily - stolen dogs

New offence to tackle dog theft moves step closer

Government announces plans to bring forward a new criminal offence for pet abduction in Kept Animals Bill

People who abduct dogs will face up to five years in prison, reflecting the emotional distress caused to both the owner and the dog

Today's announcement makes up part of the Government's response to the recommendations of the Pet Theft Taskforce

Category

Tags

Owners fearful of Dog thefts with new survey revealing numbers are rising

Category

Tags

The Farmer’s Dog partners with DogLost in throwback “missing” campaign

Category

Tags

How to protect against dog theft

Ways to protect your dog from theft

Identification

Out and about

At home

When leaving them in other people’s care

Social media

Other things to bear in mind

If the worst happens and your dog is stolen

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