EVERY 12 months within the UK, about 2,000 dogs are stolen. That’s roughly FIVE dogs taken from their homeowners day by day. These statistics not solely spotlight the alarming numbers of canine thefts but in addition emphasise the emotional misery for households and their beloved pets. Each stolen canine represents not only a lack of property, however a lack of companionship, belief, love and safety.
These numbers present the pressing want for joint efforts to boost consciousness, implement stronger laws, and empower pet homeowners with the data to guard their furry pals from such devastating incidents.
“It is every pet owner’s worst fear. The thought of our beloved pets being stolen from us doesn’t bear thinking about but is a nightmare that more and more pet owners are experiencing” says James Whitten, Marketing Manager at petGuard.
Leading pet insurer petGuard desires to unfold consciousness concerning the surge in canine theft and new legal guidelines being launched to deal with this ongoing problem.
Dog theft has been on the rise within the UK
In 2023, there have been 2,290 circumstances of canine theft recorded throughout the UK, with 359 of them occurring in London alone. This marks an alarming 6% improve in comparison with the earlier 12 months. Sadly, solely a small variety of stolen dogs have been reunited with their homeowners. It highlights the pressing want for motion to handle the rising downside of canine theft and enhance the possibilities of pets being returned to their households.
What will the brand new legislation do to deal with canine theft?
Under the proposed modifications, the federal government will introduce a brand new ‘pet abduction’ offence which is able to imply that pet theft is not handled as lack of property. Instead, the brand new Pet Abduction Bill legislation exhibits that pets imply way more to their homeowners than property.
According to GOV.uk, beneath the proposed Pet Abduction Bill people convicted of pet theft may very well be sentenced to a most of 5 years together with a financial penalty. This new legislation was offered to the House of Commons in December 2023 and its second studying took place in January this 12 months.
The new Pet Abduction Bill may also appears to be like to make figuring out and monitoring circumstances of pet theft simpler by introducing new microchipping necessities for dogs and making microchipping obligatory for cats too.
“There are many steps you may take to maintain your canine secure. At petGuard, we’re critical about offering cowl for the one that you love companion“ provides Whitten.
Find out extra about petGuard’s canine insurance coverage on:
https://www.petguard.co.uk/dog-insurance
Read extra about canine theft on:
https://www.petguard.co.uk/dog-theft-awareness
