Dogs Trust, the UK’s main canine welfare charity, says pet theft is on the rise within the UK, and it has issued steerage to house owners in a bid to forestall dogs from being separated from their households.
According to a recent report by Direct Line, 2,290 dogs had been stolen throughout the UK in 2023, a six per cent improve on 2022 and in an effort to make individuals conscious of the hazards Dog Theft Awareness Day is on Thursday 14 March 2024.
But even supposing having a canine stolen is distressing, pet theft will not be a particular crime. As it stands, the crime of stealing a canine is handled in the identical means because the theft of home items equivalent to telephones and bikes, with out contemplating the massive emotional influence shedding a pet has on households and people.
For many years, Dogs Trust has known as for harsher penalties to discourage those that revenue from the theft of dogs. A Proposed Private Members Bill in The Scottish Parliament, the Dog Abduction (Scotland) Bill, has been launched by Maurice Golden MSP and is awaiting Stage One. If profitable, this may see Dog Theft change into a particular offence.
Maurice Golden MSP stated: “Dog theft soared during the pandemic and only seems to be getting worse as time goes on. It’s now a matter of urgency that we have a set of laws designed to punish severely those who steal a dog, that are also strong enough to deter others who may be considering it. I’m glad this is underway in Scotland and across the wider UK and look forward to taking my Bill forward in the coming months in Holyrood. Dogs are so much more than a simple household commodity, which is how the law currently regards them. They deserve all the protection we can give them.”
To assist house owners scale back the danger of their canine being stolen, Dogs Trust has issued the next recommendation:
· Ensure your own home and property boundaries are safe – hold your canine in and intruders out.
· Keep an eye fixed in your canine when they’re within the backyard and by no means go away them unsupervised.
· Do you submit footage of your canine on social media? If so, commonly assessment your privateness settings and ensure your deal with can’t be recognized out of your posts.
· When exercising your canine, all the time hold them in sight and take note of what they’re doing. If exercising your canine off lead, make certain they’ve good recall and are available again to you if you name them, no matter the place they’re.
· Never go away your canine unattended in a public place – even when it’s only for a minute.
· Likewise, by no means go away your canine alone in a automobile. As nicely as the danger of being stolen, they’ll additionally simply overheat, even when the climate is chilly or gentle.
· Make positive your canine is searchable in case the worst ought to occur. Ensure your canine is sporting a tag with your title, telephone quantity and deal with on it, and ensure your canine is microchipped. Let your database supplier know if any of your contact particulars change, and hold up-to-date, clear pictures of your canine, ensuring to point out any distinctive options.
If the worst does occur and your canine is stolen, you possibly can really feel helpless and do not know the place to begin in search of them. Dogs Trust suggests the next:
· Report the theft to the police immediately. Make positive you get against the law reference quantity and demand that your canine is recorded as stolen and never lacking.
· Report the theft of your canine to your native authority canine warden.
· Notify your microchip database supplier.
· Ask native rescue centres, animal charities and vet practices to maintain an eye fixed out in your canine.
· Monitor locations thieves could attempt to promote your canine, like pet web sites, pet retailers and spot boards. Notify the police instantly if you happen to come throughout something.
· Use lacking and stolen animal web sites such as DogLost which assist to reunite lacking pets with their house owners by providing free recommendation and assist.
Maria Murray, Associate Director Prevention and Community Engagement at Dogs Trust stated: “Having your beloved pet stolen is an extremely stressful, often heart-breaking experience. For many owners, pets are members of the family, and being separated from them, without knowing where they are, is devastating.
“It’s disappointing to hear that pet theft is on the rise, but by following a few simple tips, you can reduce the chances of this despicable crime happening to you. Never leave your dog unattended, especially in a public area, and if you are walking them off lead, always keep them in sight. You should also be careful with what details you share online about your canine companions.
“Not only is it a legal requirement for your dog to be microchipped and to wear an ID tag while out in public, but these two simple steps will also help to get your dog home to you as quickly as possible if the worst does happen.”
For extra info, go to Dog Theft – What To Do If Your Dog Is Stolen | Dogs Trust
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