Yahoo News Government plan to crack down on people who abandon pets they acquired during lockdown
A Government taskforce has been set up to look into pet thef
(PA Wire)People who abandon pets they bought during lockdown could face tougher sentences under plans being considered by ministers.
The Government’s pet theft task force plans include punishing people who leave their dogs at home for extended periods.
The new measures, which are still being considered, come after the remit of the task force widened to cover the abandonment of animals amid fears that a large number of them will simply be cast aside when their owners return to the office.
In the first six months of lockdown, 2.2 million people bought dogs. The number of thefts increased by 19 per cent in 2020 from the previous year.
Ministers are also considering prosecuting “dognapping” under animal welfare laws as they believe this will ensure the emotional attachment between owners and their pets is considered in more cases, the Times reported.
Staffordshire Bull Terriers have been the most stolen dog since January 2010, followed by chihuahuas and Jack Russells.
One victim, Robert Powell, had his £4,000 Staffordshire Bull Terrier swiped in a burglary at his son’s north London home last year.
Stealing a pet is a criminal offence under the Theft Act 1968, and carries a maximum prison term of seven years.
A government source told the Times: “We need to start considering that it’s not just a theft issue, there’s also abandonment.”
David Lammy, Labour’s shadow justice secretary, told the paper: “The dreadful thought of having my dog stolen keeps me up at night. The current laws are failing to put off organised crooks from stealing pets for profit.”
While Boris Johnson, who owns a dog called Dilyn, has said that dog theft can “cause huge pain and grief” to owners.
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