Sometimes it feels like you can’t open Facebook or the Gazette & Herald without hearing about dogs! Whether it is a terrible incident where a poor woman is mauled in a Chippenham park or complaints about irresponsible owners not picking up after their dogs there is always something hitting the news. The fact is that 23% of households in the UK own a dog so they are bound to provide something to talk about.
I attended a Wiltshire Council Area Board recently where a member of the public asked our local police representative whether the reported incidences of dog-napping were exaggerated. The answer was “yes” although the number of thefts of dogs has increased significantly across the country as well as in Wiltshire.
There have been numerous reports of people being attacked whilst out walking and their dogs being taken as well as distraction techniques being employed to call dogs away from their owners before being bundled into cars.
The coronavirus lockdowns have seen a huge increase in puppy purchases as people had time on their hands and wanted a four-legged companion. We are one of those families. My children nagged us for a year to get a dog and when the first lockdown was put in place we started to look around because we would be around to invest the time in training it.
As with anything, when demand exceeds supply, the cost goes up and so I was gobsmacked to see the cost of even unregistered puppies reaching £3,000! Unfortunately when prices reach this high for a single puppy and litters of 10 is not uncommon in most breeds, the criminal world starts to take an increased interest.
Back in 2019, the Government passed a bill known as “Finn’s Law” named after a police service dog who was stabbed whilst pursuing a suspect with his handler PC David Wardell. Finn sustained serious stab wounds to the chest and head, but only criminal damage charges could be brought against his attacker. Campaigners at the time recognised that Finn was a loyal friend of PC Wardell and put his life on the line to protect his human colleague. The campaigners wanted the law to make a distinction between Finn and PC Wardell’s radio or handcuffs which, if damaged by the suspect, would also have led to criminal damage charges with the same punishment.
The Government considered the campaign and decided that in the case of a service animal, such as a horse or dog, charges (and thus sentencing) should reflect the animal being a living being rather than a piece of “equipment”.
My attention was caught last week by an online petition calling for pets to be recognised as more than mere “possessions” in the context of theft. The logic follows that of Finn’s Law and is, in my opinion, correct.
If a thief breaks into your car and steals your phone is the impact to you greater or less than if they had taken your dog out of the boot? If a criminal breaks into your home and steals your TV could you replace it more or less easily than if they took your puppy? Finally, if a thief walked up to you in a park and punched you to the ground before running off with your dog would you be more upset than if they took your watch? So far 123,591 people who have signed the petition (including myself) would say yes.
Speaking as someone who has spent the last 30 odd years with a dog in the house I can tell you that they immediately become part of the family. They show affection and loyalty, they make you laugh and they protect every member of the household. They are sentient beings who every member of the family connects with on different levels. When a family pet (not just a dog) dies there are tears and longing for that member of the family who is no longer around and who leaves an empty space on the sofa. The thought of someone breaking into your home and taking a member of your family would fill anyone with dread.
It is surely right then, that a thief who chooses to target a dog rather than a TV (which can be replaced the following day), should face a different charge or at least harsher sentencing.
For some people crime is a way of life, it is their business. A burglar makes a series of calculations when targeting a house; what is the likely value of goods inside? How quickly can I be in and out? What security might catch me? What is the punishment if I get caught? A burglar analyses this and decides which house on the street to burgle based on the risk versus reward calculation. If a thief can steal a laptop and sell it for £200 or steal a puppy and sell it for £1,000 whilst the crime and sentence is the same for both they are far more likely to steal the dog.
So, in my opinion, by increasing the severity of sentencing for the theft of a pet we help to dissuade criminals from committing such crimes because the risk versus reward ratio becomes less appealing. They might only get £200 for that laptop whilst they will make £1,000 from the dog, but if they are caught with the dog (under the campaign’s proposal) they go to prison for a minimum of 8 years.
If you want to get behind the campaign to force a discussion in the House of Commons please take some time to sign the petition online.
I bought a “designer puppy” last August and frankly I’m frightened and on my guard every time I take him out. I bought two button alarms to keep in my pocket when walking him. I do wonder of anyone would help if they heard my shrill alarm though . I doubt it.
I bought my puppy because I am a shielded person (still!) and because my husband had died a while ago and I thought it was a great way to get out to meet people again. It is of course , but I am very nervous. I wouldn’t stand a chance fighting anyone off.
It’s a huge and sad problem.
Hi Kerry, thanks for taking the time to comment!
I would say, first and foremost, it is important not to be overly frightened by the increase in dog thefts. The chance of this crime being committed against you whilst walking with your dog is incredibly small in comparison to the risks we all take when we get in a car for example. We are aware of risks whilst driving and we alter our driving style to suit the conditions but we aren’t terrified whenever we get behind the wheel. The same should apply to this scenario.
What is important is that we are aware that it is going on and take steps to reduce the risk. Carrying an alarm is a good idea if it makes you feel safer, I would also suggest sticking to places where you are likely to have other dog-walkers around if you are feeling particularly nervous.
I would imagine that because people are becoming more and more aware of the issue the police will have stepped up their patrols and members of the public are quicker to report suspicious activity. When this happens criminals naturally tend to move on to a new patch where the public is less aware.
Don’t be scared, just be aware. Now go out and enjoy the countryside with your dog at your heel!