Sentences for dog theft need to be increased

Every year hundreds of dogs are stolen and the evidence shows the numbers are increasing every year.

There are however no official crime statistics for dog theft and much of the information is anecdotal.

It is thought around three dogs and cats are stolen every day, with around half of owners never seeing them again. This may be just the tip of the iceberg.

Unfortunately unless people receive a ransom note or there is a witness to the crime, a dog that has been stolen is often only reported as missing.

Dogs are stolen from houses, gardens and even when they are being walked. They are taken for a variety of reasons, including ransom attempts, to sell on or to be used in dog fighting.  

To combat this problem we need clear reporting of this crime so we can see its full extent and the sentencing guidelines should recognise the seriousness of the crime. 

Unfortunately the current sentencing guidelines give such little regard to the non-asset nature of a dog that it is very difficult for courts to impose prison terms on offenders. It is hardly surprising these offences are on the increase. Dog theft is now seen as a low risk-high return offence.

I am a dog owner and I know that although I probably wouldn’t get more than a fiver for my scruffy mutt, it is the impact the theft of my dog would have on me that counts not the monetary loss and the sentencing guidelines need to better reflect this.

Dog theft can be heart breaking and more must be done to punish those who are convicted of this offence.  

Dog theft is rarely opportunistic and the emotional harm on victims can be substantial.

I want to see a change to this. There should be proper recognition in the Sentencing Council’s guidelines of the impact this kind of offence can have. It needs to properly recognise the value of a family dog and should not be quantified in terms of monetary value.

Until there are proper, clear sentencing rules for those who commit this nasty crime there is no real deterrent.  

As a dog owner myself I would be devastated if our pet were to be stolen. He is part of our family and the same applies for many cats.

That is why more needs to be done to fully understand the extent of this problem and ensure people who steal dogs receive a far harsher sentence than is currently the case.

Gareth Johnson is the Conservative MP for Dartford