Dogs Trust > Information > Poppy's Opinions > Dog Theft >
Just recently I was walking on my way home from work with my human, sniffing along the grass verge as normal, when an old battered white estate car slowed down next to us.
The two men inside stared at me very closely, before pulling away at speed. My human seemed very agitated and a bit scared at this because, apparently, there have been reports in the newspapers about dogs being snatched from their owners at the roadside and she thought I might be next!
Sadly, all too often these days we hear of pedigree and crossbreed dogs (especially lurchers like me!) being stolen; for breeding, for hunting, for selling on to unsuspecting members of the public, held for ransom and worst of all, for use by dog fighting rings. Dogs may be taken from the roadside, from gardens, locked kennels, parked cars, outside shops or when exercising.
Groups specialising in helping to trace lost and stolen dogs, estimate that many thousands of dogs may be stolen in the UK every year. However, as the law stands we may never know the true figure, since dogs are usually logged merely as stolen or missing property and so accurate statistics are not kept by the police or Home Office.
It can be very difficult to get your dog back if he or she is stolen, so prevention is definitely better than cure, but what steps can you take to help ensure your dog’s safety?
Have your dog microchipped. Dogs Trust offers reduced price microchipping, please contact us for more information. Alternatively (or additionally), get your dog ear-tattooed. Remember to keep your microchip details up to date if you should change address. You can do this free online at www.petlog.org.uk or by post for a small charge.
Make sure your dog has a collar and tag with your name and address on it. This is a legal requirement anyway. Also include contact telephone numbers. You could also use a tag from a tracking company, such as Petsafe. If your dog has been neutered (which may put off certain types of thieves – especially if your dog is a pure-breed or pedigree) have a tag made which states this. You may also want to state if your dog is microchipped.
Never tie your dog up outside a shop and leave him – this is one of the easiest places for your dog to be stolen from.
Never leave your dog alone in a parked car for the same reason as above. Remember also that dogs can die in hot cars very easily.
Beware of strangers taking too much of an interest in your dog.
Don’t let your dog go out of your sight on walks. Consider using an extending lead, do some extra recall training, or actively play and interact with your dog on walks if he is likely to wander too far away. Vary your walk routes and times.
Make sure your garden fencing is secure and high enough. Keep your dog in view when in the garden. Avoid leaving your dog in your garden when you’re not there. If the public have easy access to your garden via a gate, consider adding a warning system, such as a cowbell, to let you know when trespassers enter.
Keep clear, up-to-date photographs of your dog; from different angles, head and full body shots. Make a list of any unusual or distinguishing marks.
Fortunately I am microchipped, so hopefully I would get back to my human if I was to go missing and the day after our unpleasant experience we walked home a different route, just in case the men in the car were still lurking. My human reckons that the best thing for anyone to do is to stay alert to everything that happens around you and never leave your dog alone in situations where he may be vulnerable.
If your dog is stolen, report this to the police and ask for a crime number, and then contact your local dog warden. There are also groups such as Doglost and Petsearch UK that can also help you trace your pet, and if your dog has pet insurance, your policy may cover the expenses of looking for your pet. Let’s hope this never happens to you and your furry friend.
Campaigning group Dog Theft Action was recently formed to raise greater awareness of the growing problem of dog theft. Please visit their website at www.dogtheftaction.com to learn more and to give your support.
So, here’s my question for you to consider and bark back to me about at poppy@dogstrust.org.uk –
‘What other steps do you think would help keep your dog safe?’ and/or ‘Should the police take dog theft more seriously?’
I’m looking forward to seeing your replies. Until next time, take care and keep safe…
Best woofishes,
Hello Poppy,
I think that dog theft is a very serious crime...kidnapping humans is taken seriously, so why can't kidnapping dogs be taken seriously. I’d go mad if any of my dogs were taken and the police only reported the incident as missing/stolen property!!! Dogs are living creatures too and deserve just as much rights as humans do!!!!
I don't know what else we can do to protect our dogs, maybe be given more liberty to protect them from horrid people without worrying about anything!
Thanks, Louise
Dear Poppy,
Even though I can't own a dog, I would be devastated to lose one! I think that raising peoples’ awareness of dog theft would help, since I didn’t know about it until I read your article! Maybe all of the Dogs Trust supporters could create their own posters and put them up, with some facts about Dog Theft, and how to prevent it! If you print a poster, remember to donate your ink cartridges!
Bryony
Hi Poppy
I don’t understand why people do such a horrible thing to dogs. It would be horrible for them if they were kidnapped on the roadside so it must be for dogs! If any of my pets where stolen I would go crazy! Animals are alive and share this planet with humans and they respect humans so why can’t we respect them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Well I know I do). By the way those pics of you on the other page are really sweet it must be great to accomplish such things!!!!!
Thanks sophz x
It is possible to track motor cars with a tracking device, so why can’t the police fit some dogs with such a device so as to track the stolen dog to the thieves’ house?
I have a tracker in my car which tells me and others exactly where my car is when moving or when parked.
Could the dog identification chip become a tracking and identification disc?
This new tag would surely catch a few thieves and warn off anyone else considering carrying out this awful crime.
Mick Dennett
I think the Government should reintroduce a compulsory dog licence, incorporating chipping and vets should be obliged to check all patients. Who do we lobby to get some legal changes, as pet owners get very little help recovering pets. It’s like a needle in a haystack without a database.
Hello Poppy!
Three related things – I know that in the UK anyone can insert microchips in a dog; I have also been told that if the chips are inserted incorrectly they can ‘wander off’ which is what you don’t want when you and pooch are returning to the UK! I met an owner of a Viszla (?) who had her dog’s ears tattooed because suspect people were removing one chip and inserting another to demonstrate they (illegally) owned the dog.
So, for starters, how about only vets surgeries are allowed to do this.
TTFN, Bronya
Hi Poppy I am a rescue dog too. My name is Oscar & I am a Pure-blood Border Collie. In Febuary I was stolen from my human when we were walking in the wood. I was very frightened & my people were sick with worry. They phoned the police but didnt get ANY help at all. They phoned the Dog Warden who was very helpful & Petsearch on radio Leicester. But I was saved by a man seeing me being taken & telling my human where I was being held. My human & her friend came to rescue me & I dont think I ll forget how wonderful it was to see them & to be back with my people again. I know I was lucky. It was only 3 days (It seemed much more) so I didnt have to suffer too much but I still have terrible nightmares.My humans are very understanding & love me as much as I love them, but we are all much more on our guard now. lots of licks & best woofs Oscar
My advice is to also treat your dog with love and respect incase the stealer tries to act nice towards your dog and the dog goes along.I love my dog and should hope she never gets stolen or even any dog in the world gets stolen!
Thank You, Clo x
Hi there, I think that dog theft should be taken seriously by the police.
A lot of the smaller dogs are taken and used for dog bating with the fighting dogs. This is supposed to be against the law so if the police looked into dog theft then maybe they would be able to trace more of the dog fighting rings that seem to be popping up everywhere.
There is another side to dog theft as well, a lady who lives in my area was walking with her 2 labs, one of them wondered off and didn't respond to her call. While she was looking for the dog she noticed a group of boys with a couple staff type dogs. Anyway she eventually found her dog dead, she had been badly savaged she thinks, by the 2 dogs she saw with the group of lads.
I used to think that it was just my own opinion that if a person can commit cruelty to an animal then the next 'step up' is to do something to a child.
I have a friend who is a vet and they are now told that if they find a case of cruelty to any animal they have to report it to the authorities.
This being the case I really do feel that the police should look upon dog theft and acts of cruelty to animals in a more serious light.
Regards
