South East Cornwall family says their 'lives are still on hold' after dog theft
Margie and Ruby were lost from a family farm in July 2021
A family from south east Cornwall are speaking out about dog thefts, after they lost their Norfolk Terriers Margie and Ruby three years ago.
Data reveals more than 1,800 dogs were stolen in the UK in 2024.
A decade-long report that tracked dog thefts and recoveries to owners has revealed the current state of the nation. What has been successful in ending the practice, and what still needs to be done.
The report, by Direct Line, found that 23,430 dogs were stolen in the UK between 2014 and 2024. 5,005 - approximately 21% - were successfully returned to their owners**. The highest number of thefts occurred in 2021, when 2,760 dogs were taken.
While dog theft remains a significant issue, 1,808 dogs were stolen in 2024. The implementation of the Pet Abduction Act in May 2024 has clearly played a positive impact, resulting in a 21% decrease in thefts. The Act made pet abduction a criminal offence in England and Northern Ireland, punishable by up to five years in prison.
"Our lives are still on hold all this time later"
Angela Greenhough, who lives near Saltash, said: "The day that Margie and Ruby disappeared was the day that my husband and I lost our world. Everything has been on hold since that day. Nothing can describe the worry, the fear and the guilt that we didn’t keep them safe.
"We are merely going through the motions, and I go to bed each night with the thought that ‘today wasn’t the day Margie and Ruby got to come home’. They are not replaceable. They are our family and I will do everything in my power to find them for as long as it takes. I miss them with an ache that will never go away.
"All my life is about finding my girls and bringing them home"
"We were unaware of the prevalence of dog theft when this happened to us. The last three years have been one horrible learning process, and the impact goes far beyond my worst imaginings. We have done things and seen things that I still find unbelievable. If we had realised that dogs were stolen from farms, we would never have allowed Margie and Ruby the freedom to roam in our fields, or had the faith we had in their GPS trackers to keep them safe."
A survey found that 61% of dog owners are concerned about their pet being stolen, with 33% saying they feel “extremely” or “very” worried.
Data suggests proportion of stolen dogs reunited with their owners is on the rise. In 2023, just 16% of stolen dogs were returned, marking the lowest recovery rate in the past ten years. However, in 2024, this figure increased to 19%.
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