Following increased reports of dog thefts across Wiltshire, a petition to recognise pets as more than replaceable possessions has reached more than 116,000 signatures.

Wiltshire Police have previously issued a warning urging people to keep their dogs indoors, after a gang in a 4x4 vehicle was spotted driving around the county attempting to steal much-loved pets.

Since then the force has received numerous calls from the public reporting suspicious activity.
Following the successful campaigning for “Finn’s Law” back in 2019, the Government passed The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill to protect service animals such as police dogs and horses. The updated legislation identified service animals as being more than just “equipment”.

Now, dog owners across the country are calling on the Government to act in order to protect their family pets.

Dominic Muns, a West Lavington Parish Councillor who has been publicising the campaign locally said: “It is clear to anyone with a pet that their dog or cat is a member of the family. If someone breaks into your house and steals your TV, as horrifying as the experience is, you can replace your TV the following day. If someone steals your pet it plunges the entire family into despair.”.

Over the last three months the number of dog thefts nationally has increased, partly driven by increased demand following coronavirus lockdowns. 

With more people working from home the demand for dogs has soared. Earlier this year, the Kennel Club reported a 168 per cent increase in people searching for puppies for sale compared to 2019.

Mr Muns, who is also a Conservative candidate in May’s local council elections, said, “My family extends to include our dog; the thought of her being taken and sold to an unsuspecting buyer, or worse still, to a puppy farm or as a bait dog to dog fighters is horrendous”.

With average litters of eight and puppies selling for anything up to £4,000, dog theft has become big business. Recent reports include houses being broken into and entire litters being taken along with their mother leaving their owners devastated. 
“It is completely logical that following Finn’s law, where a police dog ceased to be seen by the courts as a piece of equipment with the same value as a shield or a pair of handcuffs, sentencing for theft should recognise pets as more than a household item which can be replaced.

Whilst people who do not have pets may find it hard to imagine, for animal lovers the loss of a family pet is no different from that of a human.

"When it comes to tackling crime it is vital that the risk outweighs the reward to deter the thieves.”.

The petition has gained more that 116,000 signatures so far and looks set to continue. 

The closing date is May 20 2021 and a link to the petition and Mr Mun's full thoughts can be found at facebook.com/dominic.muns.for.the.lavingtons

Prospective police and crime commissioner (PCC) Liz Webster has also joined the call for a national registration scheme and for pet theft to be a specific crime with a jail term.
She said: “My heart breaks when I think about families whose dogs have been ripped away from them by criminals."