Sussex PCC backs Protect Your Pooch campaign
It follows a survey by Katy Bourne in which 22% of people said they've had a dog stolen, or know someone who has, in the last year
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne has thrown her backing behind a campaign aimed at showing dog owners how to protect their pets.
The national Protect Your Pooch campaign was launched in response to a survey conducted by Mrs Bourne earlier this year.
It revealed that 27,440 people (22% of respondents) have had a dog stolen or knew someone who had over the last year.
Neighbourhood Watch have put together some tips on how to keep your dog safe:
- Keep an ID tag on your dog at all times (your surname, mobile number and address only, do not include your pet’s name).
- Secure gates using bolts at the top and bottom, along with a heavy-duty padlock and gate alarm.
- Never leave your pet in the garden unattended.
- Purchase a driveway alarm so you are alerted to any intruders, these can also be used in rear gardens and yards.
- Make sure your dog is microchipped and their details are kept up to date so that they can be returned if they are stolen and subsequently found.
- Avoid leaving a dog tied up outside a shop or left alone in a car, even for a few minutes.
- Take lots of photographs of your dog to prove ownership if it’s stolen; pay particular attention to any distinguishing markings on your dog.
PCC Katy Bourne, who now sits on the Government’s newly launched Pet Theft Taskforce, wants residents across Sussex to heed this advice.
She says:
“I’m pleased that my national survey has sparked so many conversations and movements over the last couple of months to better protect our pets.
“The number of survey responses showed the extent to which the public are concerned about pet theft and gave an idea of how many people have been affected by having a pet stolen.
“I’m pleased that the Government are taking this matter seriously with the launch of the Pet Theft Taskforce to work with police, law enforcement, and experts to understand and better investigate this crime.
“There are also steps that people can take themselves to better protect their pets, Neighbourhood Watch is sharing tips on how to keep them secure, insight and searchable. They are also pinpointing the steps to take if you think your dog may have been stolen and how to spot a scam.
“This is helpful advice, that I encourage you to take.”