Dog owners are more scared of walking their pets than this time last year due to the rise of “dognappers” during lockdown, said a recent survey.
According to DogLost, a UK charity that helps victims of dog theft, dognappings have risen from 172 in 2019 to 465 in 2020, a rise of 170 percent, leading to Nottinghamshire Police appointing a specialist dog theft officer to tackle the issue.
In February, the police warned of the rise in dog thefts by organized criminals, as the demand for puppies continues to rise due to their increase in cost.
But campaigners say the penalties for dog theft do not match the devastating impact it can have on families who have beloved pets taken from them.
The online survey, organized by Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, received 124,729 responses with a large majority (96.9 percent) saying dog theft was a "serious problem" and that thieves should face stiffer sentences.
Dr. Daniel Allen, an Animal Geographer at Keele University, who set up the Pet Theft Reform campaign with the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance in 2018, said: "The number of survey responses shows the extent to which the public are concerned about dog theft crime. Further research is needed to build the data base and inform the response to dog theft moving forwards."
Bourne from Sussex said: "Police forces across the country need a flag for reports of dog theft on their systems as currently it is extremely difficult to track this crime trend and put in place an appropriate police response."
"Pets are part of people's family and the devastating emotional impact of this crime should no longer be overlooked," she added.
The Home Office has asked to discuss the findings and how it can develop measures that will protect people's pets and boost public confidence, saying it will be exploring whether it is time to consider defining pet theft as a specific crime.
