Dog Theft Awareness Day
DOG THEFT AWARENESS DAY STARTS PET THEFT AWARENESS WEEK 14th – 21st March.
PRESS RELEASE
The Stolen And Missing Pets Alliance’s (SAMPA) Dog Theft Awareness Day is in it’s third year, an annual event held on 14th March.
Prevention and Advice is top of the agenda while explaining why we need tougher laws to act as a deterrent to protect all our pets.
No one is safe from this crime, which hits families, the elderly and the disabled. The loss of a companion and family member is devastating.
With dog theft on the rise it’s a salutary reminder to all pet owners that no one is exempt from this vile crime. FOI figures from the police reveal 5-6 dogs are stolen everyday in England and Wales. This is just the tip of the iceberg as figures for ‘Theft By Finding’ are never included. In reality Doglost say more than 60 dogs are snatched every week.
Dogs are stolen from gardens, houses, parks, kennels, outside shops and cars. Nowhere is safe. Any breed is stolen but designer toy breeds and gun dogs are particular targets. Thieves even steal litters of puppies!
Reward or ransom for return can be demanded but most dogs are sold on to unsuspecting new owners, with some being used for breeding and worse dog fighting.
The Dog Microchip Regulations were only instigated to save money on stray dog kennelling and sadly the microchip system fails to help missing pets get home. Although it is compulsory to microchip our dogs it is optional for the veterinary profession to check pet and owner match, even though they state it is best practice as a recommendation, this loophole remains.
Last year, SAMPA Patron Dr Daniel Allen’s Pet Theft Petition was asking for ‘pet theft to be reclassified as a crime in its own right’ it reached 100,000 signatures in just four months, this illustrates the strength of feeling on the issue.
After meetings with MPs recently it has been decided that ANOTHER petition should be started to support the Pet (Theft) Bill. You can sign on this link:- https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/244530
We need the Government to act now to protect our pets.
A change in the law is necessary to deliver justice for victims of pet theft as well as to work as a deterrent.
The draft Pet (Theft) Bill was prepared by SAMPA legal adviser Professor John Cooper QC and has been proposed by MP Ross Thomson which awaits its 2nd Reading in Parliament, this will create a new, separate criminal offence in its own right, recognising the self-evident fact that the theft of a living, sentient being is in a whole different category to the theft of an inanimate object:- https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2017-2019/0245/cbill_2017-20190245_en_2.htm
THEFT PREVENTION TIPS:
Don’t leave your dog outside a shop or supermarket
Don’t let your dog out of sight during exercise
Don’t leave a dog unattended in a vehicle
Make sure your garden, house and outside kennels are secure.
Check gates, lighting and think about CCTV
Be careful who can see your pet’s photos on social media
Change your routine regularly
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:
Always have the following information in your mobile phone:
A clear photo of your pet, showing any distinguishing markings
Your pet’s microchip number
Local Animal Warden’s phone number
Your vet’s phone number
Your dog’s microchip database phone number.
Check your contact details are correct and up to date and flag as missing.
Make sure your details cannot be changed without your permission
Contact DogLost (01633 673859 or www.doglost.co.uk) email admin@doglost.co.uk.
Use social media
Poster, poster and poster again.
March 14th is #DogTheftAwarenessDay
SAMPA’s legal adviser Professor John Cooper QC explains his draft Pet (Theft) Bill sponsored by MP Ross Thomson who is waiting for a 2nd Reading date in Parliament :-
DOG THEFT AWARENESS DAY 14th March
PLEASE BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!
52% of dogs are stolen from gardens.
19% of dogs are stolen in house burglaries
16% of dogs are stolen while on a walk
7% of dogs are stolen while being tied up outside shops
5% of dogs are stolen from cars
NO WHERE IS SAFE ANYMORE.
#pettheftreform #theftbyfinding #scanme #checkthatchip
March 14th is #DogTheftAwarenessDay
March 19th is #StolenHorseDay
March 21st #MissingCatDay
We are proud to add the National Animal Welfare Trust as a supporter:- National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) has become the first animal welfare charity to support the #pettheft petition launched by the Stolen and Missing Pet Alliance (SAMPA).
SAMPA wants to lobby Parliament to change the way animal theft crimes are reported and punished, in recognition of the importance pets play in our family lives.
Read More:-https://www.nawt.org.uk/blog/news-nawt-backs-petition-make-pet-theft-crime-its-own-right
Pet Theft Awareness:- http://pettheft.org.uk
Our pets are categorised as ‘property’/ ‘personal items’ in law which explains why Pet Theft is on the increase. The punishment does not fit the crime and this is why we need the Government to Reclassify the theft of a pet to a specific crime in its own right.
List of supporting MPs
Gareth Johnson MP for Dartford, Kent. Conservative
Gareth.johnson.mp@parliament.uk
Sir David Amess MP for Southend West, Essex. Conservative
Paula Sherriff MP for Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. Labour.
Paula.sherriff.mp@parliament.uk
Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP for Chingford & Woodford Green, NE London. Conservative
Iain.duncansmith.mp@parliament.uk
Sir Henry Bellingham MP for North West Norfolk, East Anglia. Conservative
Jonathan Reynolds MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, Labour (Co-op)
Jonathan.reynolds.mp@parliament.uk
Antoinette Sandbach MP for Eddisbury, Cheshire. Conservative. Antoinette.sandbach.mp@parliament.uk
Stephen Gethins MP for North East Fife, Scotland. Scottish National Party Stephen.gethins.mp@parliament.uk
Rt Hon Mark Tami MP for Alyn and Deeside, Scotland. Labour
Rt Hon Dr Julian Lewis MP for New Forest East, Hampshire. Conservative
Douglas Ross MP for Moray, Scotland. Conservative
Kevin Foster MP for Torbay, Devon. Conservative
Julian Knight MP for Solihull, West Midlands. Conservative
julian.knight.mp@parliament.uk
Brendon O’Hara MP for Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Scottish National Party
brendan.ohara.mp@parliament.uk
Yvonne Fovargue MP for Makersfield, Greater Manchester. Labour
yvonne.fovargue.mp@parliament.uk
Rt Hon Sir Mike Penning MP for Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Conservative
Mike Hill MP for Hartlepool, County Durham. Labour
Henry Smith MP for Crawley, West Sussex. Conservative
Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP for Brighton, Kemptown, East Sussex. Labour (Co-op)
lloyd.russellmoyle.mp@parliament.uk
Alex Chalk MP for Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Conservative
Giles Watling MP for Clacton, Essex. Conservative
giles.watling.mp@parliament.uk
List of MPs who supported the Pet Theft Debate 2 July 2018
Chaired by Mike Hill MP
Gareth Johnson MP
Ross Thomson MP for Aberdeen South, Scotland. Conservative
John Howell MP for Henley, Oxfordshire. Conservative
Simon Hart MP for Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire. Conservative
Andrew Rosindell MP for Romford, East London. Conservative
andrew.rosindell.mp@parliament.uk
Bob Stewart MP for Beckenham, London. Conservative
Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger MP for Bridgwater & West Somerset. Conservative
Jim Cunningham MP for Coventry South, West Midlands. Labour
Jim.cunningham.mp@parliament.uk
Sue Hayman MP for Workington, Cumbria. Labour
George Freeman MP for Mid Norfolk, East Anglia. Conservative
George.freeman.mp@parliament.uk
Henry Smith MP
Yvonne Forargue MP
Dr Lisa Cameron MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven & Lesmahagow, Scotland. SNP
Giles Watling MP
MPs attending the drop-in 2nd July 2018
Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP for Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. Conservative
andrew.mitchell.mp@parliament.uk
Rt Hon David Hanson MP for Delyn, North Wales. Labour
Sandy Martin MP for Ipswich, Suffolk. Labour
Luke Pollard MP for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport. Labour (Co-op)
Sir David Amess MP
Alex Sobel MP for Leeds North West. Labour (Co-op)
Mohammad Yasmin MP for Bedford, Bedfordshire. Labour
mohammad.yasin.mp@parliament.uk
Julie Cooper MP for Burnley, Lancashire. Labour
Neil Parish MP for Tiverton & Honiton, Devon. Conservative
Jo Platt MP for Leigh, Greater Manchester. Labour (Co-op)
Dog Theft Awareness Day drop-in 14th March 2017
Sponsored by Gareth Johnson MP
Dame Cheryl Gilham MP for Chesham & Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Conservative
cheryl.gillan.mp@parliament.uk
James Morris MP for Halesowen & Rowley Regis, West Midlands. Conservative
Lord Trees. (Didn’t sign)
Luke Hall MP
Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne MP for New Forest West, Hampshire. Conservative
Helen Grant MP for Maidstone & The Weald, Kent. Conservative
helen.grant.mp@parliament.uk
Sir Mike Penning MP
Rosie Cooper MP for West Lancashire. Labour
Rt Hon Sir Roger Gale MP for North Thanet, Kent. Conservative
Rt Hon Steven Barclay MP for North East Cambridgeshire. Conservative
Stephen.barclay.mp@parliament.uk
Andrew Rosindell MP
Sir David Amess MP
Mark Spencer MP for Sherwood, Nottingham. Conservative
Bill Esterson MP for Sefton Central, Merseyside. Labour
bill.esterson.mp@parliament.uk
Scott Mann MP for North Cornwall. Conservative
Christina Rees MP for Neath, Wales. Labour (Co-op)
christina.rees.mp@parliament.uk
Dr Matthew Offord MP for Hendon, London. Conservative
matthew.offord.mp@parliament.uk
Gavin Robinson MP for Belfast East, Northern Ireland. Democratic Unionist Party
gavin.robinson.mp@parliament.uk
Geraint Davies MP for Swansea West, Wales. Labour (Co-op)
Geraint.davies.mp@parliament.uk
John Stevenson MP for Carlisle, Cumbria. Conservative.
john.stevenson.mp@parliament.uk
Rt Hon. Gavin Williamson MP Chief Whip (Not allowed to sign) (Minister)
Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP for Ludlow, Shropshire. Conservative
Liz Saville Roberts MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Wales. Plaid Cymru
liz.savilleroberts.mp@parliament.uk
Sir Paul Beresford MP for Mole Valley, Surrey. Conservative
Fiona Bruce MP for Congleton, Cheshire East. Conservative
Kate Green MP for Stretford & Urmston, Manchester. Labour
Simon Hart MP
Justin Madders MP for Ellesmere Port & Neston, Cheshire West. Labour
justin.madders.mp@parliament.uk
David Morris MP for Morecambe & Lunesdale, Lancashire. Conservative
Rishi Sunak MP for Richmond, Yorkshire. Conservative
Craig Tracey MP for North Warwickshire. Conservative
Craig Mackinlay MP for South Thanet, Kent. Conservative
Craig.mackinlay.mp@parliament.uk
Edward Argar MP for Charnwood, Leicestershire. Conservative
Andrew Bridgen MP for North West Leicestershire. Conservative
andrew.bridgen.mp@parliament.uk
Mary Glindon MP for North Tyneside. Labour
Chris Davies MP for Brecon & Radnorshire, Wales. Conservative
Rt Hon John Spellar MP for Warley, West Midlands. Labour
Kerry McCarthy MP for Bristol East. Labour
Kerry.mccarthy.mp@parliament.uk