Gundog theft is on the rise, with many gundogs being stolen across the UK every year. This week we are urging all gundog owners to take steps to protect their pets from being stolen.
You can do several things to make your gundog less appealing to thieves, and we will discuss these in this blog post. We hope that by following our advice, you can help keep your beloved pet safe!
1. Where possible, keep your gundog on a lead when out in public places. This will make it more difficult for thieves to snatch your dog and make a quick getaway.
2. If you have a garden, make sure it is well-secured with a high fence that your dog cannot jump over. This will deter thieves from trying to break into your property to steal your pet.
3. Be vigilant when walking your gundog and keep them close at all times. If you see any suspicious characters hanging around, do not approach them and instead move away quickly and report the incident to the police.
4. Make sure your dog is microchipped and that you have registered their details with a reputable microchip company. It is now a legal requirement to have your dog microchipped. This will help the authorities reunite you with your pet if they are stolen and later found.
5. Keep a recent photograph of your gundog safe and easily accessible. This will be useful if you need to provide a description of your dog to the police or media.
6. Look at alternative deterrents like DNA profiling your dog. This will help the authorities reunite you with your pet if they are stolen and later found.
What Can I Do if The Worse Happens?
- Make your dog too hot to handle as quickly as possible.
- Contact the police immediately. Also, contact your pet insurer, as they may have systems in place to start the search for your dog alongside you.
- You can call the police using the phone number -101
- You can also contact DOGLOST on their phone number – 0844 800 3220. Their website is also full of information to support and educate you.
- In the LWDG FREE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY, we have a lost/stolen thread. Simply type the word stolen into the group search bar, and add your dog to the comments. This alerts the entire group that there is a gundog missing. Do this across as many other pet/gundog groups as you can post.
- Sadly, many dogs never reunite with their owners, so do as much as possible to prevent theft.
Useful Links If Your Dog Is Stolen
Dogs aren’t property
As dog owners, we know our precious pups aren’t just property – they’re members of our family. So it’s heartbreaking to imagine the devastating impact that dog theft can have on both the innocent animal and its loving owner.
Current laws treat dog theft as simply stealing property rather than a crime with extremely serious emotional and financial consequences.
That’s why campaigners are pushing for a change in how courts view pet theft. They argue that it should be recognized as a profoundly harmful crime, not just based on the welfare of the stolen dog but also on the profound impact it has on their devoted owners.
It’s time for our laws to become more helpful, loving, and caring towards both animals and their guardians in these situations. And who better to turn to for wisdom and expertise on this issue than those who have been personally affected by pet theft – the very people who love and care for their four-legged friends every day?
It’s time for a change in how we approach dog theft. Let’s make sure justice is served for all parties involved – both two-legged and four-legged.
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