The new pandemic: pet theft on the rise

Dog owners in London are now living in a constant fear of having their pet stolen. With the increase of dog ownership during lockdown, puppy prices have skyrocketed and expensive breeds have become an easy target for criminals. 

Even a short walk around Hackney is enough to notice various ads about dogs going missing. Luke Powell, who runs a dog day care centre, has been increasingly made aware of the hazard while on his daily walks with his clients’ pets. 

“We really have to be careful now. The dog owners are becoming very paranoid and obviously they have reasons to. It’s very stressful because you can’t really get them (dogs) off the leash now, you have to be on a constant watch. Especially with the ones that like to run, it’s kind of frustrating now because you can’t really do that.”

The dogs that Luke and his business partner are usually taking care of are expensive breeds. Good Run (pictured above on the left), a half Vizsla and half German Pointer, could cost from £3,000 and upwards for a puppy.  

“You obviously have an insurance in case a dog gets stolen or something happens to it, but this is the kind of business that runs on a recommendation basis, people tell each other about you in the park etc. So if something happens to the dog on your watch, that’s not the best for the reputation of your company.”

According to Pet Food Manufacturer’s Association, 2020 and 2021 have seen a three million increase in the number of dogs owned in the UK in comparison to 2019. This has resulted in prices of the breeds such as Chow Chows increasing by 134%. 

As an outcome, the dogs have become targets for criminals, and the Metropolitan Police statistics speak for themselves: 132 animals of all kinds were stolen in March 2021 in London alone, in comparison with just 37 in March 2020. 

Because, according to Theft Act 1968, dogs are classed as property, dog theft is a relatively ‘low-risk’ crime, while being rewarding at the same time.  

Yet with the ‘dognapping’ phenomenon being so prevalent in the recent months, the Home Secretary Priti Patel stated that she was looking into introducing tougher measures to tackle it. 

Londoners have not been the only ones affected by the ‘dognapping’. In February, Lady Gaga’s dog walker Ryan Fischer was shot while walking three bulldogs belonging to the singer in Los Angeles. 

Two were taken and the third one ran away to be later found by the police. They have been returned a few days later into a Los Angeles police station by a woman who is not thought to have been involved in the incident. 

Mr Fischer has been released from the hospital after having a part of his lung removed and is now recovering at home. 

Pictures by Wiktor Karkocha