I have been wanting to write a post for a little while to help raise awareness about the increase in Dog Theft in the UK and the lovely Justine Quirk from DogLost has agreed to provide information for me to post to help us all stay safe from Dog Theft.
DogLost, a national lost & stolen dog service (not for profit) run via a network of volunteers works to give practical advice to those who have had a dog stolen or that’s lost. You can visit their website here www.doglost.co.uk, there is also a section on their page for stolen and lost cats.
DogLost has seen a 170% increase in dogs registered as stolen in 2020 compared to 2019. In 2021 (January, February & part of March), we’ve had 151 stolen dogs registered to DogLost – this figure is up 50% on 2020 figures so sadly dog theft cases aren’t slowing down.
The Top 5 Stolen Breeds in 2020
- Cocker Spaniel
- Springer Spaniel
- Jack Russel
- French Bulldog
- Labrador
It’s still important for owners to realise that dog theft involving aggravated assault whilst out walking is still very low but it always pays to be aware and alert when you are out.
However, your dog is more at risk from being stolen from their own back garden so owners can afford CCTV and motion sensitive light, we do recommend having them put up. Dogs should never be left in the back garden if you are nipping out; regardless of how secure a garden is. We recommend keeping your dog in view whilst in the garden.
It seems incredulous that we still have to share this message; but dogs should never be left tied up outside of shops regardless of time. Thieves strike within seconds – we have footage to prove how quickly they can snatch a dog and it really doesn’t matter the age, breed, behaviour of the dog normally – they can and do steal dogs within a minute. it is not worth the risk.
And the same applies for leaving your dog in a car, whether you are nipping in to a shop or you work on a site where you would take your dog to work in a van. Dog thieves are now in possession of car fobs which can and do let them into cars without having to smash windows to grab the dog.
DogLost’s Top Tips for Keeping your Dog Safe.
- Dogs are at most risk in your back garden, ensure your garden is secure and never leave them outside unsupervised.
- Never leave your dog outside a shop or in a car, even if you are just nipping in for a couple of minutes, that’s all the time needed for a dog to be stolen.
- When walking your dog, ensure that they have excellent recall and keep them in eyesight at all time.
- Consider alternating your dog walking route and time.
- If you can, walk with another person or in a populated area.
- If you are approached by a person that attempts to take your dog or acts suspiciously around your dog, report the attempt immediately to the police 101.
- BE ALERT, BE AWARE, BE VIGILANT!
I’ve tried to keep this post as brief and informative as I possibly can so hopefully more people can read through the post even with a busy lifestyle and take in the key information on the dog theft rise. It is so important for dog owners and dog business owners to share and spread this message so we can all be aware and alert of the situation we are facing in the UK.
Please feel free to share this blog post with your friends and family who are dog owners and stay safe!
Wirral Woof Pack 