IT is a cruel crime which can bring heartache to families and distress to animals. But in one part of the northwest there has seen a significant rise in the number of dog thefts.
The Pet Abduction Bill was launched over the weekend.
Abducting a pet has become a criminal offence and anyone found guilty of stealing a pet in England or Northern Ireland will face up to five years in prison, a fine or both.
The new law recognises that cats and dogs are not inanimate objects but sentient beings capable of experiencing distress and other emotional trauma when they are stolen from their owners or keepers.
Data sourced from police forces by Direct Line Insurance revealed an estimated 2,290 dogs were reported stolen across the UK in 2023, the equivalent of six a day. The number of dogs stolen increased by six per cent compared to the 2,160 dogs reported stolen in 2022.
Sadly, the number of dogs successfully returned to their owners has decreased by 36 per cent, with just one in six (16pc) returned.
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