I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling dismayed by recent dog thefts. It's easy money: thieves can make up a back story, and claim that 'their' dog needs a new home. I agree that we need stronger laws and penalties for stealing what is, in reality, a family member. When we argue for changes in the law, it would be helpful to document the real cost of a dog, including food, higher rents, insurance, veterinary care, specialty equipment, and hours of DAILY training.

Secondly, we are causing this problem ourselves to some degree, by allowing such extraordinary prices for puppies that they have become commodities. If thieves can't sell puppies for good money, the thefts will end. Is there some way for breeders to be compensated fairly without a chunk of cash changing hands? Some system that would validate both buyers and sellers before payment? Buyers of puppies are contributing to this crime if they buy from a stranger without credentials, and I believe penalties should apply to them too, just as they would for an adult buying a child being sold on.

We live with regulations created by politicians, officials and judges who spend their days in city offices far removed from animals. We need to educate them to recognise dogs as sentient beings, not to be trafficked.

Barbara Caswell

Handling Stolen goods would apply.

My breed are determined to not allow prices to get silly, the majority have agreed to a £1000 maximum, even though 2 had been charging up to 50% more, the rest of us felt strongly that it was far too much.

We need more interest in our breed, but do not want to attract people with a primarliy financial motivation.

The Sussex PCC is conducting a survey into the Public's perception of dog theft - we can only help by completing it.  Please share to friends not on CD's too

https://www.chichester.co.uk/news/crime/sussex-pcc-wants-to-understand-public-perception-of-dog-theft-through-national-survey-3141151?fbclid=IwAR0SYVZLAAi5k1nE-DGSSWJlWVXP9adsc-caaVuDDoRh2e_ID_T2VBwdfFc

https://www.neighbourhoodalert.co.uk/da/367119

Link to the survey. They want anyone nationwide to complete this who has a dog

done

Does anyone have suggestions for solutions to this horrible problem? We could all post them on our different local community boards if so.

> They want anyone nationwide

But not Scotland, I'm going with the north east... really far north of Englandshire

Englandshire lol

When I look on pet selling sites, I was amazed at the bad photos people used for older dogs. With mobile phones it's not difficult to take a decent photo, I usually take loads and delete 90% of then

With all the dog thefts I am getting more suspicious that some of these could be stolen pets. I don't know if its my imagination but some dogs appear to be cowering on the end of a lead or don't appear to know the owners.

I think my smallest dog would bite if someone tried to pick her up. She is protective of me and would probably nip someone who threatened me. I've been trying to make her less reactive, but maybe at the moment it's a good "bad" habit she has.

This site may be of interest:

doghorn.uk

It's a charity raising awareness of dog theft, supporting actions to combat it and providing advice to dog owners.  They have suggestions about how to minimise risks and what to do if the worst happens.  They also sell items such as personal alarms, referee-type whistles on distinctive lanyards and so on - all profits going back into the campaigns.

I have found some of the tips useful and will be getting an alarm/whistle.  Who knows how effective such items may be but they might make me feel a bit better prepared!

It is dreadful we are all living in a world with so many dog thefts.  Horrible and so scary.  I am not sure how I would recover if my boys were stolen ...

Thanks for the survey links - done!

I believe the crazy prices is what is fueling the increase in dog theft. It's a lower risk crime and now the pay off is huge. I would think alot of the stolen dogs are either sent to be puppy farmed or they are being sold on probably by responding to wanted ads so they don't have to even advertise them. If the prices went back down to what they were the theft would too.

Once lockdown lifts I'm sure prices will start to drop as in people going back into the work places, so will be some time yet as the demand will not be there as it has been for the past year.

True! But I fear there will be an oversupply of dumped dogs from families who got them rather impulsively without thinking ahead. We don't need a flood of neglected, untrained problem dogs! We need dogs from educated breeders who focus on health, intelligence and vitality to keep dogs in Britain leading good lives and having good futures!

We had a local dog missing, with posters everywhere, and then found, filthy, matted, traumatised and wounded where her chip had been cut out. This problem is urgent. Dogs are not merchandise, but living things, with loyalty one of their foremost qualities, so passing through many hands is worse for them than for more independent animals.

People willing to pay for lifelong pet companionship should be wonderful for dog breeding!... but instead their money is supporting cruelty. Can pet sales be certified somehow? People believe that by getting 'rescues' that they are doing a good deed, but these are far more likely to be stolen pets, and frequently neurotic. A puppy from a reputable breeder obviously comes from the mother viewed with her family. Every beloved dog is indeed a treasure to its family, but we need to alter our laws to make the same dogs worthless to thieves. What can be done?

Close down those awful pet selling sites which have zero interest in health testing, kc reg and any morals and ethics. The main one allows byb's and puppy farmers an outlet to advertise. You cut off their main means to advertise and they will struggle and hopefully go away. So the pets4, gumtree, Friday ad, dogs and puppies and so on. Either close down or ban the sale of animals

Caswell:  > I fear there will be an oversupply of dumped dogs from families who got them rather impulsively without thinking ahead.

Unwanted rather than dumped!... I believe there is a difference.  The sites are flooded with 'teenage' and younger Puppies for sale at the exhorbetant prices you mention. Irresponsible owners want to recoup their losses which is bad enough.  Just watch the number of teenagers/puppies rise on the 'rescue sites'. Ten fold at least IMO as those wishing to recoup find the prices falling so my question is 'are prices falling a good thing or will this mean more disorientated little animals being held in the only place available to them - Rescue?' There is always a consequence to an action and I'm afraid this will be the harsh reality in my book.

We do indeed need dogs/puppies from educated Breeders but unless licensing is re introduced with education and direction being paramount from official bodies, joe bloggs who has no incentive to become educated will continue to create generations of poorly bred lines.

I admit, I was one who had no idea of what responsible breeding was all about many years back but then very few did and it's only through self motivated education that my procedures have been adopted.

The problem is at the root of an industry that has been ignored for far too long with still no answer by government in implementing, tackling or policing legislation even though laws are minimal.

Suejaw:  > Close down those awful pet selling sites which have zero interest in health testing, kc reg and any morals and ethics

I totally agree but I think we both know that is not going to happen - sadly.  I've been watching some of the questions raised bi first time posters on the Forum and I must admit I have been pleasantly surprised by comments relating to 'homework' done on dog ownership, however there have been just as many who are ignorant to health testing.  There are so many of us respond regarding the difference between Vet Checks & Health Testing, how to interperate Health Test Results and what testing is recommended or compulsary in finding a reputable Breeder.

Maybe the question we should ask is how should campaigning to educate be addessed?  Such a ticking time bomb.

The main one seems to have got itself into a position of influence with the powers that be as a stakeholder, in advisory capacity on dog welfare!!!

I was shocked, and the KC didn't seem to have been consulted?

Price caps on all dogs being sold, of any age.  I'll keep saying it.  As far as I can tell, it's the only way to stop this lunacy with the covid prices and rapidly increasing dog theft.  It's all about profit so remove that option.

This stealing is happening everywhere. In a village not far from me ( I say "village" as it once was but now very built up) the other day there was an attempt at stealing a labrador from a chap.

Two men pulled up and jumped out of a BMW and one grabbed the dog but the owner fought back.  He managed to get them off his dog but I am told he got hurt in the process.
This was in broad daylight.  Another case not far from me is a dog gone missing and there are posters up. It may have just strayed, i don't know, but it is seems it is classed as stolen. Its awful to go on facebook and read what is going on (8 dachshunds stolen..2 found) and I am nervous walking my dog as I walk alone.
I stick to a quiet place where no-one seems to go....the Church graveyard!  I am respectful...I go right to the bottom where there are no graves and throw the ball for the dog.
Here he can have a run off lead but otherwise I keep him by me on the lead.
I carry a citrus spray and have just bought little camera.

My dog's favourite place is perched on the back of the settee to look out of the window and this is where he waits for me.  Now I worry because people pass by and look in at him.
Is it just me being over anxious/neurotic or is anyone else like this?

Katy Bourne for Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner

Leicestershire Police: Dogs section

Anyone on facebook check these two, 1st is safety advice . The 2nd is a survey about thefts.