Lori Nicholson
Many dog owners have unfortunately been left sorrowful at the disappearance of their beloved furry friends.
The number of dog thefts in the U.K. has risen by 20% over the lockdowns. Forget about Cruella, we have the real DeVils. So you may be wondering, why? Why has there been a rise in dog thefts over lockdown, well the most common theory is that due to many of us wanting puppies throughout lockdown the prices of pups has risen drastically meaning breeders are left with substantially more money in their pocket. If a dog is stolen, for the thief it means it is free, they may keep it as a pet of their own or sell it for a high profit.
Earlier this year, singing sensation Lady Gaga had two of her French bulldogs, Gustav and Koji dognapped. Her other Frenchie Asia managed to escape the scene and the L.A. police department found her roaming the streets. Her dog walker, Ryan Fischer, was just taking the dogs on their daily walk when there was a violent armed robbery. He was shot by the robbers but thankfully is recovering. The singer put up a $500,000 reward for the return of Gustav and Koji and two days after they were stolen a woman claimed to have found the missing pups, however she is yet to receive the reward money as police are questioning whether she was involved in the dreadful crime.
The average cost for a pedigree pup ranges from around £400 -£3000 in the U.K. with the most popular breed being Labrador retrievers. Sometimes it can be more rewarding going to a dog shelter and adopting rather than buying a brand new puppy. The most common dogs that have been stolen are cross-breeds. They are the most expensive dogs to purchase and are often seen as the winners at dog shows. Could this be the reason why they are the highest in the statistics to be stolen?
Many owners are worried about their canine companions and are wondering what they can do to reduce the risk of them being taken. Here are some top tips on how to look after our furry friends:
- Keep your dog on a leader where possible; this makes it easy to stay near your dog and keeps your dog in your view.
- Have a strong clip on their leader; this takes a thief longer to take away the leader and gives you time to save your dog.
- Always watch your dog if you are letting it out into the garden; someone may come in when you aren’t looking or maybe invest in some sort of tracking device on your dog such as an AirTag; this tracks your dog and gives you information on where it is at all times.
I think we all agree that what is happening is unacceptable and we should all keep a closer eye on our dogs to keep them safe. Everyone should be aware of their surroundings and if anyone comes to you and asks you questions about your dog, maybe about the price or how old they are, just walk away. Remember, even the smallest detail might be all the information they need on how to steal your precious pooch.
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