Kent has the 2nd greatest variety of dog thefts in the UK, according to brand-new research study.
Direct Line Pet Insurance has actually discovered that 2,160 dogs were reported as taken throughout the UK in 2015 – however just one in 4 are ever discovered.
London stays the dog theft capital of the UK and the Met Police – which covers Bromley and Bexley – had the most at 396 taken dogs.
Of this high number, simply 32 were discovered and gone back to their owners.
This was followed by Kent Police which had the 2nd greatest variety of taken dogs in the nation at 177 in 2015.
mpu1
Wayne May, who is a cops intermediary organizer for DogLost UK and the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance, said a great deal of dogs are being taken “simply for financial gain”.
He said: “People are taking dogs from your garden, your parks and your lorries and what they’re hoping is that you publish a benefit and they’re capitalising on your sorrow.
“Sadly members of the general public are parting with their money to get their cherished family pets back.
“Some dogs are taken for breeding, and the puppies are then cost substantial quantity of money which is rather financially rewarding for the crooks since we have not yet got an enforceable law where they’re anticipating to get a jail sentence if they get captured, all they’re going to do is get a slap on the wrist.”
The research study discovered that the most taken breed was discovered to be American bulldogs, with theft numbers being 4 times as high as in 2021.
There was likewise high varieties of taken Staffordshire bull terriers and French bulldogs.
Wayne, who resides in Dartford, said that having your dog taken is seen in law as like having your push bike taken.
He said: “We require parliament to impose these laws and the sentencing council to pass this down to the police so they can act upon the intelligence that individuals like myself and other organisations provide to them.
mpu2
“What I’d like to state to the sentencing council truly is spend a day with me or put yourself in my shoes.
“Every single day I handle individuals that are victims of family pet theft in basic, and they truly require to see what’s occurring they require to see the effect and the distress that it triggers and the distress.
“Children not going to school for a week since they miss their cherished family pet, I’ve even had cases where dog owners have actually pondered or attempted to devote suicide
“It’s got to deserve evaluating the laws to have this stopped – the sentences are not stiff sufficient and they require to be evaluated and in my view, urgently.”
He said that dog thefts can occur in a variety of methods – from cars and trucks, home robberies or perhaps when they’re out on a walk.
He explained: “It’s not unidentified to occur – if their recall isn’t good and the dog roams a bit too far, individuals can nab the dog and simply run.
“Make sure you have actually got sufficient family pet insurance coverage in line, make certain your family pet has a microchip which is a legal requirement in the UK for dogs.
“Make sure your phone numbers depend on date so if we discover them we can reunite them quicker.
“Obviously I’m rather knowledgeable about the economy at the minute however I would recommend all individuals that have home security and CCTV to upgrade to the very best capability and make certain whatever tape-recorded around their residential or commercial properties is of high quality.
“It will help us get your dog back, it assists cops and individuals like me to determine the burglar. More frequently than not we will understand who these individuals are however without clear images we can’t.”
He likewise motivates individuals to set up security lighting.
He said: “Don’t head out your house and turn left each and every single early morning at the very same time, modification instructions, go to various locations, it’s extremely extremely simple to end up being an animal of practice and the crooks will capitalise on this.”
