Where do I begin? My heart breaks when I think of all the dogs that have been stolen and not been returned to their owners. Such a sad state of affairs to have a family member taken from you, and that’s exactly what our dogs are, family!
I thank my lucky stars that I haven’t been a victim of this cruel crime, but my thoughts go out to every dog owner that has.
Why are dogs being stolen?
The only reason for dog theft is financial gain. Whether that be for breeding, ransom, selling or fighting. The one thing that connects all of those things is a way to make money.
How often do you think to yourself, my dog is absolutely priceless to me, I would do anything to protect them? Dog thieves know that. They know owners will do absolutely anything within their power to protect their pooch, and they are only to willing to take advantage. Since lockdown, last year, puppy sales have gone through the roof, and reports show that dog theft is up by 170%.
Are more dogs being stolen to breed from?
Without question, yes they are.
The average price of a puppy at the moment is approximately £1500 – £2000. A bitch with a litter of 5 pups (which is a small litter) can make a thief nearly £10,000. The more “popular” breeds, such as Dachsunds, French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs and the new fashion, Pocket Bully’s, can sell for way more, some as much as £4000.
Big money can be made from pregnant dogs. Don’t be fooled into thinking that its just female dogs that are being stolen, they need to be mated, so male dogs are not safe either.
Obviously, breeding is not the only reason that dogs are being stolen, but the financial gain for a thief is huge. Our advice would be GET THEM NEUTERED.
What can I do to keep my dog safe?
- Never leave your dog unattended outside a shop. Leave them at home whilst you go shopping.
- Never leave your unattended in your car for any reason.
- Never leave your dog unattended in your garden.
- Make sure your dog is microchipped, (this is law now anyway) and all details are up to date with the registration company.
- Get them neutered as soon as they are old enough. Some veterinary practices wont neuter bigger breeds until they are at least 18 months, so keep this in mind when choosing your puppy.
- Make sure your dog is wearing a collar and tag
- Don’t put your dogs name or address on the tag, just a contact phone number is sufficient.
- Don’t walk your dog alone, try and walk with somebody else if you can. Thieves are becoming bolder and will snatch the lead right out of your hand.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Leave your phone in your pocket (unless you are taking pictures of your pooch).
- Take notice of people watching you, or admiring your dog.
- Think about taking an alarm with you like a whistle or a rape alarm. Something that will attract attention.
What do I do if my dog IS stolen?
- Contact the police to report the incident.
- Contact doglost.co.uk
- Make them too hot to handle. Flood social media with their face. Let people know if they have any unusual markings etc.
- Contact the microchip company to tell them your dog has been stolen.
- Enlist the help of family and friends to help spread the word.
- Contact vets to see if your dog has been handed in to them.
We all need to do what we can to prevent dog theft, before we can stop it completely. To do this we need to get the government to give harsher sentences to thieves, maybe try and get your MP on board.
Currently the maximum sentence for dog theft is 7 years, but most sentences will be much lower. Imagine! 7 years for the heartache you have endured, the confusion and suffering your dog has gone through. I think we can ALL agree, 7 years is nowhere near long enough.
You can go to this link https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/560216 to sign the petition for making dog theft a specific criminal offence, with a MINIMUM of 8 years prison and £5000 fine.
The more signatures the better.
KEEP YOURSELVES AND YOUR DOGS SAFE. STAY AWARE.