In 2024 alone, a staggering 1,808 dogs were reported stolen.
Rottweilers saw the highest rise in thefts, increasing by 180% year-on-year, followed by Border Collies and Chihuahuas.
Heartbreak for owners
Dog theft victim Sarah Rodgers described the heartbreak of losing her Husky, Diesel, who vanished from her garden in October last year. “It was an ordinary evening. The other dogs returned, but Diesel never did,” she said. “It’s devastating, particularly for my daughter, who lost her best friend.”
Ms Rodgers later discovered a makeshift camp in nearby woods and suspects Diesel was stolen by someone living there.
Call for tougher measures
Now, many dog experts and owners are calling for tougher measures to prevent pet theft, including Dogs Today editor Beverley Cuddy, who said: "Criminals see this as a low-risk, high-reward crime. Many stolen dogs are forced into breeding or held for ransom. We need to make it harder for them to profit from these crimes."
Since May 2023, the Pet Abduction Act has made pet theft a criminal offence in England and Northern Ireland, punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.
