Dog Thefts on the Rise
The number of dogs being stolen or abandoned is up 20 per cent compared to 2013
The number of dogs being stolen or abandoned increased by 20 per cent last year compared to 2013.
The rise has lead to the busiest year yet for a missing dogs service.
Dog Lost says almost 18,500 dogs were registered lost or found in 2014.
Andy Smith claims his husky dog Murphy was stolen in December, after he disappeared on a walk near their home in Bradford.
“He slipped his collar while chasing a squirrel and then he disappeared,” the dad of three told us.
“I was later told by a neighbour he was seen being bundled into a blue estate car by two lads.”
After registering Murphy as missing, Andy had a phone call from a man who said he’d bought the dog for £40 and would meet up to return him. But after the caller failed to turn up for three arranged meetings and then stopped answering his phone, Andy assumed he’d decided to keep Murphy.
“It’s been a nightmare,” he says. “I’ve not been sleeping, I’ve not been eating. I’ve lost 2 stone!
“Murphy’s part of the family. People who are not animal lovers won’t understand what we’ve been going through. It’s a massive part of our life."
When asked what he would say to the people who took Murphy, Andy said: “I just want them to return him. There’s a £1,500 reward for Murphy now - just say you found him and the money’s yours, no questions asked. You could buy several huskies for that money, but I just want my boy back.”
Manager of Dog’s Trust Leeds, Amanda Sands, gave us some tips to help dog owners keep their dogs safe:
“Make sure the dog is microchipped so it can be traced back to you. Neutering the dog means nobody would want it for breeding, and we would advise people not to tie their dogs up outside shops.
“If the dogs are in the garden, just try to keep an eye on them. Either be out there with them or have your door open. I know it might make life a little bit difficult but it’s just keeping them safe really.”
The Facebook campaign to find Murphy now has more than 33,000 likes and has been seen by millions of people.
Other pet owners have been using the page to help find their missing dogs, many of which have since been reunited. You can find the page