It is seen as low-risk high-reward by opportunists and people concerned in organised crime.
Dogs are stolen to order, to promote on, for ransom or reward, used for breeding in puppy farms, or used as bait in canine preventing rings.
Every canine, irrespective of which breed, its age or intercourse, is seen as a possible goal.
But pets are household.
The Pet Theft Taskforce and the Government recognised this and added the Pet Abduction Offence to the Kept Animals Bill.
This Bill and this offence was dropped in May 2023.
With this, a stolen canine continues to be seen in the identical approach as some other private property with sentences depending on financial worth.
Theoretically, dognappers can obtain a most seven-year sentence.
However, that is provided that the canine is price over £100,000.
Many thieves are merely fined or given a suspended sentence if caught in any respect.
The truth dogs are sentient beings isn’t thought-about.
The truth a powerful emotional bond is fashioned between folks and pets; the very fact they’re members of the family, isn’t taken into consideration.
This is improper.
Since 2018, the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance and I’ve been campaigning for Pet Theft Reform.
With victims on the coronary heart of the marketing campaign, we recognise the significance of the human-animal bond, the devastating affect that animal abduction has on folks and pets, and the necessity for pet abduction as a particular legal offence.
Pet Theft Reform is about household.
Our mission is rising ever extra pressing because the variety of canine thefts continues to rise, placing much more animals and homeowners making an attempt to guard them in danger.
Our 4 authorities petitions every handed 100,000 signatures, triggering parliamentary debates.
There have been 684,970 signatures in whole.
We’re now on to petition quantity 5 to “make pet abduction a specific criminal offence”.
Pets are household, not simply property. It’s time for laws to mirror our on a regular basis experiences.
Daniel Allen is the founding father of the Pet Theft Reform marketing campaign.
