Pet Abduction Bill backed by government in response to pet theft rates across UK

The legislation will create a new specific offence for dog and cat abduction as over 600 animals were stolen last year in London alone. 

Last year, 654 animals were stolen from their owners in London according to a recent release from the Metropolitan Police. This marks a 72 per cent increase in animal theft offences since 2013 and means that in 2023 there was an average of 1.8 animals stolen in London every single day.

This number had been steadily growing until the pandemic, where the amount of animal thefts skyrocketed. SAMPA (the Stolen And Missing Pets Alliance) explained how “there was a huge increase during the Covid lockdown, as more people wanted puppies” leading to an “increase in organised crime” for breeding dogs.

In 2023 the number of stolen animals returned to the pre-pandemic levels. Across the UK, this means that 6 dogs are being stolen every day. Debbie Matthews, co-founder of SAMPA, explained that these animals are being stolen to be “kept for breeding, held onto until a ransom is paid, sold on for cash or used for dog fighting”.

Despite the large number of animal thefts, the recovery rate for these offences has remained around 10 per cent for over 10 years. Diane explained that the problem is that animals are currently classed as inanimate property, due to old laws from 1968.

Luckily, last week the new Pet Abduction Bill received government backing. Anna Firth, the MP who introduced the bill, said that this announcement builds upon wider work to protect pets from theft. The legislation proposes that anyone found guilty of stealing a pet could face up to five years in prison. The bill also recognises that pets are not merely inanimate property like a phone or a watch, granting the police more powers to find pet thieves.

When asked how individuals can protect their pets against theft, Debbie advised to “be aware and alert”. She explained how gardens are the most common place for a pet to be stolen so it is vital to check that they are secure. It is also important to never leave pets alone in a vehicle or tied outside of a shop. She recommended using the website petdatabase.com to add contact information that is linked to your pet, so if they are found and scanned you can be contacted.