Dog theft should be made a specific crime as 1,700 pets are snatched in a year, say campaigners
Figures obtained from county police show 33 reports of dogs being taken in 2020.
Campaigners are calling for dog theft to be made a specific crime (Image: Tetiana Garkusha | Getty)
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The hundreds of dogs stolen in lockdown and few ever return home
Many incidents go unreported but now calls are being made for a change in the law
Dog theft rose by 27% between 2014-2018 (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
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Croxley Green pensioner felt suicidal after beloved dog stolen before £1,000 ransom threat
Gerald McCarthy described his chihuahua as his constant companion since his wife passed away
Gerald McCarthy s dog Molly has been missing since March 18
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A Hertfordshire pensioner said he feels suicidal after being given a £1,000 ransom to be reunited with his pet chihuahua.
Tuesday, 16 March, 2021 - 06:30
A resident wearing a mask walks her dogs in Beijing, China, Feb. 25, 2020. (AP) London - Asharq Al-Awsat
Dog owners are more scared of walking their pets than this time last year due to the rise of “dognappers” during lockdown, said a recent survey.
According to DogLost, a UK charity that helps victims of dog theft, dognappings have risen from 172 in 2019 to 465 in 2020, a rise of 170 percent, leading to Nottinghamshire Police appointing a specialist dog theft officer to tackle the issue.
In February, the police warned of the rise in dog thefts by organized criminals, as the demand for puppies continues to rise due to their increase in cost.
Country Life
Trending: Credit: Alamy
Lockdown brought with it a huge demand for people wanting dogs, to keep them company in long hours spent alone at home. Sadly, that s sparked a huge rise in dog theft. Katy Birchall reports on a ‘low-risk, high-reward’ crime and gets suggestions on how you can protect your pooch – or get him or her back if the worst happens.
One morning last May, gamekeeper Jon Gaunt of Brightling Park in East Sussex found his kennels had been broken into and three of his spaniels stolen.
‘The ordeal I’ve been through that I’m still going through is horrendous. It’s agony,’ he says.