Dog thefts have been on the rise across the UK, according to latest police figures. A total of 2,290 dogs were stolen in 2023, which represents a 6% increase from 2022. The Metropolitan Police also registered that there have been 359 dogs reported missing across London, followed by Kent Police (138) and West Yorkshire Police (125).
Cats aren’t as likely to be overtly stolen in the same way as dogs. They are that much more wary on the whole. What they do is wander into someone else’s house and take up residence which can be just as devastating for their owner if they don’t return. The new house-owner might think the cat has been abandoned, starts feeding them and before you know it the cat doesn’t return to its rightful home. This is one area where cat microchips can help identify the real owner.
I remember hearing a few years ago that fully trained gundogs are stolen to order with buyers already lined up in France and elsewhere. The advantage of course to the buyer is that they don’t have to spend time and money on training themselves. I have also heard stories of brazen thefts where it wasn’t just dogs that had been left alone or were off-lead in a park. Women on their own, walking their dog on lead have been accosted in the street and the dogs stolen under threat of violence. Others have been snatched from their garden. Some unfortunately end up as dog fight training – an evil practice that only twisted sick individuals take part in and/or watch. Dogs have also been dog-knapped for ransom in the past too.
Since Direct Line insurance started tracking this data in 2015, only 1 in 6 dogs (approx. 16%) were found and returned. Surprisingly to me, it seems that those breeds most at risk are English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and XL Bullies. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand the rise in thefts following the huge increases in the price of puppies that was originally driven up during the first COVID lockdown. So-called “designer” breeds hit close to £5k for a lovable Labradoodle mutt rather than the £00s they were before. Although I think prices have settled down somewhat since then, they are still way above pre-COVID prices and have become significantly more attractive than organised crime. Pedigree dogs may be smuggled out of the country to be used for breeding on puppy farms abroad. It has become very big business now, and is much easier to stay on the right side of the Law than for drugs and other illegal ventures. Consequently organised crime has become interested. Crimes involving animals are not be thought of in the same abroad as we do here. Breeds that frequently require expensive corrective surgery as brachycephalics and heavy skin folds will be more attractive to thieves and buyers when a few years old and after any surgery is likely to have already been done – yet another reason why ethical breeding is necessary.
There can be few things more devastating than when a dog goes missing or is stolen, so how can you prevent it from happening to you?
Don’t leave your dog outside a shop
It beggars belief that people still consider leaving their dog tied up outside a shop these days. Times have changed, and even outside the local friendly rural village shop cannot be considered safe anymore. Opportunistic thieves cruise around in vans in these areas looking for women out walking alone as I’ve already mentioned, and dogs left tied up even if only for a few minutes. It doesn’t take more than a few seconds for someone who knows what they’re doing to take a dog.
Don’t rely on CCTV either – they don’t stop crimes - they just record them! No doubt number plates may well have been tampered with for just such occasions if that’s the intention for their journey. Organised Crime know what they’re doing.
Some dogs will sense what is going on and may be able to successfully resist. Others that are used to welcoming all and sundry might just happily go along for the right titbit.
Make sure your garden is secure
Make sure your garden is fenced so people can’t see over it, and any direct entrance is secure. If the side gate is rarely used, then lock it in some way whether by a heavy chain and padlock or a suitable built-in lock. If the gate is in regular use or is otherwise unsuitable for locking, then hanging a bell out of sight/reach or some other form of alarm to create an audible indication will let you know that someone is coming in. Bear in mind that taking a small dog won’t necessarily take very long, so consider how long it might take you to get into the garden once you hear it and decide how effective it really is.
Keep on top of perimeter maintenance as small dogs will get out, or can be enticed out through holes and are more prone to being stolen. Check regularly because holes can be “created” by someone with intention in very little time. If your garden is in front of the house or the front communicates with the back garden then you may need to consider restricting access to the front area finding another way of ensuring your dog cannot be easily and quickly taken by someone pulling up in a van with intent.
Car
Leaving your dog in the car is risky unless locked in a crate or windows are darkened. Dogs shouldn’t be left in cars during hot weather for more than a couple of minutes as they can heat up very quickly, but if you have no option even for this short time, they need to have enough cool air flow not to overheat. Make sure open windows can’t provide enough room for a thief to remove your dog. Be mindful of how busy or quiet the carpark is too.
Keep your dog in sight on walks
Keep your wits about you when taking your dog for a walk. Too many times I see people sitting on a bench absorbed with their phone, or deep in conversation with someone and oblivious to what’s going on around them, or what their dog is up to. Take note of warning signs that might be put up if dog thieves have already hit that park or woodland etc. Everybody whose dog has been stolen thought it would never happen to them…
Vary the route you walk your dog and the times you go out too so that you aren’t predictable. That way a would-be thief can’t plan in advance. Where possible, walk with a friend so that you’re not alone. If walking at night, stick to well lit areas and stay away from parks where people might be able to hide more easily and are less likely to be witnessed.
Make sure you have a good recall with your dog, especially if you notice a stranger acting suspicious and carrying a lead whilst approaching your dog. You can’t just assume they own one of the other dogs. If your dog is playing with others you should be vigilant of the situation anyway in case something happens and the situation turns nasty, or your dog has an accident.
Make sure your dog is microchipped
It has been a legal requirement for all dogs over 8 weeks old to be microchipped in the UK since 6th April 2016. Most breeders get puppies microchipped just before they go to their new home so that it’s done, is one less expense for the new owner, and can be used to identify the dog in their purchase contract. Your details in relation to your dog’s microchip must be kept up to date. People buy dogs and tend to forget to update the chip details when they move or change their mobile phone number, or if the dog has been subsequently rehomed for whatever reason and the previous owner’s details haven’t been changed. Check that the microchip number has been properly recorded by the register. I have come across too many incidents where a number was entered incorrectly on a Kennel Club certificate to know it can happen. If you had to claim your dog and the chip number doesn’t match then your claim is completely undermined, even if everything else looks right. It is your responsibility to ensure it’s right, and nobody else’s.
Check at regular intervals to make sure the microchip is where you think it is. Contrary to what you’re often told, they can move! I’ve frequently found them on one side of the rib cage, or down a leg – mostly a front leg, but I did once find one that had migrated the length of the back and down a back leg!! I’ve only ever heard of one going into a joint, so that’s incredibly rare and may never have happened again.
Microchipping has become more contentious in recent years as people have become aware and wary of the transhumanism agenda, Digital ID and “the mark of the beast” in human discussions. Whilst I absolutely refuse under any circumstances to be chipped myself for all these dystopian reasons, I would equally recognise the necessity for dogs to be chipped, and cats too when it comes into Law as it will be for cats 20+ weeks old from 10th June 2024. You mighty think this is a double standard, but it’s a totally different situation. Animals cannot talk and tell someone who they belong to and where they live if lost, stolen or involved in a road traffic accident (RTA). I don’t think there will be any attempts to slide in dystopian control under the radar for future Social Scoring for our pets either!
Collars
Cats don’t wear collars outside on the whole in case they get caught up in bushes/trees and then cannot escape or strangle themselves. Dogs frequently wear a collar with a tag which is easier to be read so dogs can be rehomed by people without a microchip reader. In the UK, the Control of Dogs Order 1992 states that any dog in a public place must wear a collar with the name and address (including postcode) of the owner engraved or written on it, or engraved on a tag. Including your telephone number is optional (but I would recommend this). As for return addresses on post, the house number and postcode is sufficient for the address. The name should be the owner’s name not the dog’s which will stop someone learning the dog’s name and calling them if they want to steal him/her. Failure to comply risks a £5000 fine. Having a microchip doesn’t relieve you of this obligation. Certain dogs are exempt from having to wear a collar with a dog tag. They are:
Any dog registered with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
Any dog while being used in emergency rescue work.
Any dog while being used on official duties by a member of Her Majesty's Armed Forces, HM Customs and Excise or the police.
Any dog while being used for driving or tending cattle or sheep.
Any dog while being used for the capture or destruction of vermin.
Any dog while being used for sporting purposes.
Any pack of hounds.
For further information, please see Article 2 of the Control of Dogs Order 1992.
Of course, Boots is legally compliant here in the UK. He wears a Smart Pet Tag that is registered with Pet Database.com which maintains a DEFRA-approved microchip database register. What I like about this company is that his tag has a QR code that never changes, even if we move house. I just have to update the information on the website. The QR code links to his entry on the register so that anybody who scans it with their mobile phone receives my name and contact information. At the same time, I am pinged by SMS and email to let me know Boots’ tag has been scanned so I know he’s been found, and/or someone is checking him out. The website has a microchip checker so you can see which database(s) the chip is registered on.
In association with DogLost, they also have a lost found locator service so that if your dog goes missing you can notify them, and your dog’s photo and your contact details plus where they were lost is listed on a map. DogLost are the UK's biggest pet reunification service. They are 100% free, powered by hundreds of volunteers on the ground but there are of course costs involved that they rely on donations to cover.
Photos
Make sure you take pictures of your dog from various angles and useful close-ups, especially if they have distinctive markings or features. Photos of you with your dog can help to prove ownership too. If your dog is one that has different grooming styles at different times of the year, ensure you have however many sets of photos of your dog with various hairstyles as required to cover all eventualities at any time of the year.
The flip side of this is to be aware of what you post on social media that makes it accessible to anybody who looks. Stolen identity and impersonation can happen.
Get references
If you need to use dog-sitting or walking services, make sure you get multiple references for the person, business and/or establishment. Not only do you want to make sure they are genuine, but of course you want to know that they will be well looked after too. See if you can get them independently verified and check if they’re registered with the Council as some should be. All dog day care activities need a licence if they’re carried out as a commercial business, but not if they work from your home eg visiting dog-sitters and dog walkers.
For dog walkers, check to see how many dogs are walked together and how many people will be present to watch over them. Are they kept on lead or allowed to go off-lead? Will this person be like the people I see on a park bench taking more notice of their phone than what they’re supposed to be doing?
Buying a dog
The flip side of stealing dogs is that they are being stolen to be sold. If you see an advertisement for a dog for sale that’s not a puppy, assume it could be stolen. Even puppies can be stolen too, so make sure you see the mother and only buy from a reputable registered breeder. Do you know the person selling the dog? Does their story ring true? Do they have any proof of ownership and photos from the dog’s past? Are they on social media where you can check to see if there are dog photos etc? Borrow a chip reader and see where the chip is registered. Ask to see the dog’s collar if it isn’t wearing one and check the dog tag to make sure the information in it matches what you’re being told. Ask which vet they use, so you can phone up and see if the dog is genuinely registered there to that owner.
This isn’t necessarily an exhaustive list of things you can ask, but it’s a start. A genuine person won’t mind you asking lots of questions like this, and they may well want to see where it’s going too. If not, why not - if they really care?!
What to do if your dog is stolen
There are a number of things you should do in the unfortunate event that your dog is stolen or goes missing, all of which will increase your chances of being reunited.
Contact the local police and report your dog as stolen, providing as many descriptive details as you can. Make a note of the crime reference number.
Contact your local council to make them aware, as many still have dog warden services that encounter stray dogs.
Contact the microchip database holding your dog’s details and update them about the theft. Should your dog be recovered and checked, it will be easier to reunite you.
There are many websites for missing animals including DogLost, so make sure you add details of your dog’s loss to these, using the photos you have taken. Include the crime reference number. Prioritise locally-based groups.
Check with the local vets in case your dog has been involved in a RTA or has been taken there to get the microchip scanned, assuming the collar has somehow been slipped nor wasn’t being worn in the garden. They are also a good place to advertise the loss of any dog, as well as local animal rescue centres.
Social media can also be useful – both local and national. If your dog’s pictures and details are well circulated, then the ability to sell him/her on is considerably reduced and it becomes much more risky for the thief in terms of being rumbled. Your dog may then be dumped somewhere and picked up into the system for easier recovery.
Noticeboards in local parks and posters on telephone poles etc may also allow you to place missing dog details where other dog-minded people will see them.
Summary
Whilst the total number of dog thefts is still very low relative to the total number of dogs in the UK (which is currently estimated at around 12m), you don’t want to become part of that statistic. As we head into warmer days (hopefully sometime soon!) dogs will tend to spend more time outside both on walks and in the garden. Now is a good time to review your garden security and take stock of your situation and see how best to minimise the risks.
Resources
DogLost: https://www.doglost.co.uk/
Pet database: https://www.petdatabase.com
In the U.S. dogs are also stolen to be sold to university labs that do medical research on them. Certain breeds are more likely to be stolen--especially what are called "Pit Bulls" here (there are several breeds that fall in this category) because of the penchant for some people to bet on dog fights. The same thing is done to chickens.
During the Pandemic a lot of people who were lonely but who had no business adopting a dog did so; therefore presently there is a glut of abandoned dogs in our shelters, and a lot of problems with very poorly socialized dogs with clueless owners.
Dogs are living creatures--I consider them people, actually--and should be treated with respect. They are not objects to be adopted as a fashion accessory. Nor should they be disposed of when they are past their sell-by date.
Thank you for addressing these issues. I never leave my dogs in the yard when I leave my farm. I had one sociopathic neighbor poison a wonderful Pyrenees because he barked at her when she walked past in a menacing manner. Never again.