Dog Theft in the UK: What You Need to Know

A dog is a source of joy in your life. They are wonderful companions, adorable to be around and even helpful to many people around the UK. But sadly, there is always the risk that your dog may be stolen. You’ve likely heard about dognapping online and on the news, and while dog theft isn’t anything new it is certainly something worth thinking about.

Dog theft has major consequences for both pet and owner, and while needless paranoia is not helpful, understanding the situation at hand can help you, as a responsible dog owner, be prepared and take necessary precautions.

How Many Dogs Are Stolen in the UK Each Year?

According to the Direct Line Group findings, “an estimated 1,808 dogs were stolen across the UK in 2024.” This is the equivalent of five dogs being stolen every day. While the number of dogs stolen in the UK in 2024 was down 21% compared to 2023, it is still a prevalent issue nationwide, with thousands of pets being taken from their owners.

The Pet Abduction Act 2024

The Pet Abduction Act 2024 came into effect in May 2024. This new legislation makes stealing a pet a criminal offence in England and Northern Ireland, punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine, or both. While this new legislation is a great step forward in protecting people’s pets and could potentially be the reason for the drop in dog theft between 2023 and 2024, it doesn’t stop dog theft from occurring. In the past ten years, 23,430 dogs have been reported stolen to the police, with only 5,005 being returned to their owners.

Most Stolen Dog Breeds UK

When we first published this article in 2022, Staffordshire Bull Terriers were the most stolen dog breed in the UK. Since then, things have shifted, and now the most commonly stolen dog breed in the UK is the French Bulldog. This breed has been one of the top breeds for the past few years, with over 54,000 registered by 2021.

As one of the top ten most popular dog breeds in the UK, French Bulldogs have become at higher risk of theft, with 51 reported stolen in 2024 alone. French Bulldogs are said to reach up to £5,000 when sold by a reputable dog breeder, making them a prime pick for dog thieves looking to sell them on or breed from them.

The other most stolen dogs of 2024 are:

• English Bulldogs: 37 reported cases in 2024.

• Staffordshire Bull Terriers: 31 reported cases in 2024.

• Chihuahuas: 26 reported cases in 2024.

• XL Bullys: 19 stolen in 2024 (although the recent banning of this breed has likely led to the 49% drop in thefts).

• Labradors: 17 reported stolen in 2024.

• German Shepherds: 16 reported cases in 2024.

• Rottweilers: 14 reported cases in 2024.

• Border Collies: 13 reported cases in 2024.

• Jack Russell Terriers: 11 reported cases in 2024.

Rottweilers and Border Collies saw the most increase in thefts between 2023 and 2024, with a 180% rise in Rottweilers stolen* and a 160% rise in Border Collies stolen*.

These can be intimidating figures, and they certainly show an upward trend; however, even if you own one of the dog breeds on this list, that doesn’t mean that your dog is at risk at all times. Similarly, if your dog's breed isn't on this list, it doesn't mean it is exempt from potential theft. It simply means that, as a dog owner, you must do what you can to help your dog if this does happen to it.

Direct Line Group findings on dog theft

Why Do People Steal Dogs?

The most common motivator for dog theft is financial. In many cases, the thieves will sell the animal to another individual, such as breeders or fight organisers, making it harder for owners to find their beloved pet to bring home. Below are some of the most common motivations for dog theft in the UK.

Breeding

As we’ve mentioned above, some dog breeds are seeing a boom in popularity, pushing the prices for purebred dog breeds higher. According to Dr Linda Simmons, a consulting veterinarian of FiveBarks, “Many dogs are stolen so they can be bred. Those who have not been neutered are usually much more ‘valuable’ to a dog thief.”

This makes certain breeds more appealing to dog thieves, especially with females who can sire litters to be sold.

Financial Reward or Ransom

Dogs can also be stolen, and the thief can claim or demand a reward for their return. Even celebrities are not spared, with singer Lady Gaga reporting her three Frenchies, Koji, Gustav, and Miss Asia, as stolen in 2021 before offering a $500,000 reward for their safe return.

Dog Fighting

Sadly, another motive for dog theft is dog fighting. Despite being illegal in the UK since 1835, dog fighting is still occurring in England and Wales today, with dogs being stolen from their owners and being forced to fight.

The RSPCA Special Operations Unit investigates the complex criminal organisations responsible for dog fighting. Between 2015 and 2020, the unit followed up on over 9,000 reports of dog fighting.

Dog theft for dog fights usually falls into two categories:

• Dogs used for fighting (Typically power breeds like Pitbulls, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, etc)

• Dog used as bait dogs (typically smaller breeds like Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers, etc)

If you suspect dog fights are occurring near you, you can report it to the RSPCA here.

How to Prevent Dog Theft

While the Pet Abduction Act, as provided, added security to pet owners in the UK, it doesn't change the fact that dog theft still occurs. So, what can you do as a dog owner to keep your dog safe?

Never Leave Your Dog Unattended Outside

As many shops don’t allow dogs inside (aside from service animals), it’s been common practice for years to leave dogs tied up outside shops, schools, etc, to keep them secure when you can’t be with them. However, this is a prime opportunity for a thief to strike as you aren’t there to watch your dog, and bystanders may not recognise the person taking the dog as not being their owner.

Generally, never leave your dog unattended outside the home, including not leaving them alone in a car, as some dog thieves work opportunistically. You should also aim to supervise your dog when they’re out in the garden to ensure they are safe and cannot escape.

Keep Microchip Details Up to Date

As of 2016, it is a legal requirement to microchip your dog. However, you must also ensure that the microchip is up to date with your correct home and contact details and that your dog is registered with a vet.

As Dr Simon states, “It is now law in the UK for all dogs to be microchipped, but a microchip is not visible to a dog thief. It is useful to have your dog wear a collar that states ‘I am chipped’ so there is no doubt.” This alone can be a great preventative step to dog theft, as it adds another step for any potential thieves to overcome.

Home Security Cameras

More and more homes are being equipped with security or doorbell cameras to alert when someone is at the door or around the home. These extra security measures are another good preventative measure, especially if you leave your dog at home alone at times, as they can dissuade criminals from trying to enter your property or garden.

You can also get cameras for inside the home, such as doggy cams, which are intended to let you keep an eye on your dog even when you’re not there. Locking all entry points to your home and garden, such as using locks on side gates, is also a good deterrent.

Avoid Posting Pictures of Your Dog

We all love sharing pictures of our pets online, and why wouldn’t we? They’re adorable and we love them so much we want the world to know. However, when you post pictures online, it’s not always just your friends and family who see them. Dog thieves can use social media to find potential targets, especially when looking for ‘valuable’ breeds.

This is why it’s recommended you don’t post too much about your pet or home location publicly online. You can alter your privacy settings on all social media sites to choose who can and can’t see your posts, and when it comes to pictures of your pets, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

GPS Trackers for Dogs

With modern technology advancing so quickly, several location tracking products are available for dog owners, such as GPS collars, AirTags, and more. Many of these devices can be attached to your dog’s collar or harness, so if they go missing while out of the home, you can find them faster.

While these devices can only show you the location of the device itself, and can be removed by thieves, it still gives you and the police a better idea of what happened. For example, a GPS tracker on a collar can show where your dog was taken and give police new leads to investigate where the thief may have gone.

Choose People You Trust

We can’t be with our pets all the time, as much as we wish we could. To ensure your pet's safety and peace of mind, ensure you only leave your dog with someone you absolutely trust, such as friends or family, when you’re away. If you’re hiring a dog walker, do your research before you entrust them with your pet when you’re not there.

There have even been cases of dog theft associated with sites like Borrow My Doggy or Rover Pet Sitting services, and although these sites have measures in place to combat this, it is still a risk you take when allowing a stranger access to your home and pet. To ensure your pet’s safety, make sure you only hire pet sitters/dog walkers through sites with appropriate safety measures in place, or consider other methods of pet watching, such as asking friends and family or sending your dog to a registered boarding kennel or doggy day care.

Neuter Your Dog

Neutering your pet is beneficial for preventing unwanted litters and potential health conditions, but also because it makes them less appealing to dog thieves.

As mentioned above, one motive for stealing dogs is breeding. By neutering your dog, you can deter potential theft by dodgy dog breeders, since a neutered dog can't reproduce.

While this might seem like an option just for female dogs, it can also work on male dogs who thieves may be attracted to for use as a "stud dog", which is a term used for male dogs who father litters.

What dogs are being stolen for breeding can vary depending on what dog breeds are popular at the time. If your dog is a breed that is considered "popular" or "desired", then neutering them can help protect them from being stolen for unlawful breeding or puppy farming.

What to Do if Your Dog is Stolen

First, you must report your dog missing or stolen to the police. This begins the investigation into the area and can help you spearhead your dog's recovery. Insist on a Crime Reference Number being issued to your case so you can stay up to date on what’s happening.

Next, report the loss to the microchip company. Often, thieves will attempt to re-register a dog with a chip to a different owner to avoid suspicion, and this can be a great way to catch them in the act.

Then, you must get the word out that your dog is missing or stolen. The more people you have aware of the situation, the more eyes you have on the lookout. In some instances, criminals may abandon a stolen pet if it’s too risky to try to sell it on, which can help rescue centres or members of the community to find themfaster.

The steps after this are all about getting the word out about the pet theft you’ve gone through:

• Post your story on ALL your local social media sites. Dog groups, PTA feeds, football team WhatsApp groups, any possible angle you can take, try it.

• Make good old-fashioned “lost dog” posters and put them everywhere. They can help raise awareness in your local area and get more people looking out for your dog.

• Check your regular dog walk routes.

• Drop off posters at your local dog shelter, rescue centres and other community message boards (e.g. supermarkets).

Finally, because dog theft doesn’t have to be a local crime, post full details on as many missing animal websites as you can find, like the UK National Pet Registry, which shares its missing and found pet databases with all government bodies, like the police, vets, and rescue centres, to help reunite lost pets with their owners.

In an ideal world, these things wouldn’t have to be considered. Sadly, that isn’t the case, but with some responsible steps taken, you can do a lot to help mitigate the threat of pet theft. Still, if your dog is stolen, contact your local police station as soon as possible and get the word out. The more people know your dog is stolen, the more likely you and your beloved pooch can get home safe and sound.