Pet Theft Reform is the evidence-based campaign to make pet theft crime a specific offence with access to appropriate custodial sentences.
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Latest News:
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March 25, 2021: Tom Hunt MP, Selaine Saxby MP and Lee Anderson MP raise the issue of pet theft during 'Business of the House'. Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg MP said the government is looking to 'strengthen enforcement'.
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March 24, 2021: Heidi Allen (Director of Advocacy and Policy, RSPCA) sends joint letter in support of Pet Theft Reform to Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland QC. Signatures in APGAW, APDAWG, Battersea, Blue Cross, Canine and Feline Sector Group, DogLost, Dogs Trust, The Dog Union, The FOAL Group, Hidden in Sight, The Kennel Club, Murphy's Army, NAWT, Pet Theft Awareness, Pet Theft Reform, RSPCA, Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance, Vets Get Scanning.
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March 16, 2021: MPs debated animal welfare and theft during Covid-19.
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March 15, 2021: Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP raises dog theft during the 'Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill'.
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March 14, 2021: DogZoom event, organised by Liz Webster, 'kicks off Pet Theft Awareness Week' to highlight concerns around dog theft, raise the profile of stolen dogs, and support Pet Theft Reform (6pm GMT live).
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March 14, 2021: National dog theft survey results published - 124,729 people responded. 'Dognapping fear at an all-time high say public in huge national survey'.
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March 12, 2021: 'Celebs join Ricky Gervais in calling for change in law to stop spiralling dog theft'.
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March 12, 2021: Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP has meeting with Secretary of State for Justice & Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland QC MP to discuss Pet Theft Crime.
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March 10, 2021: Tom Hunt MP and Siobhan Baillie MP write to Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland QC to discuss the 'lack of progress' with the Sentencing Council.
1. Dog theft crime continues to rise in the UK. The impact on the growing number of victims is devastating
2. Driven by organised crime, some criminals see dog theft as a low-risk, high-reward offence
3. Under the Theft Act 1968, pets are property - a stolen Labrador is a stolen laptop
4. Dogs are stolen to order, to sell, to breed from at puppy farms, for ransom, and even for use as bait in illegal dog fighting
5. In recent years only 1% of dog theft crimes have led to a prosecution. If caught, the sentence for stealing pets is generally a small fine or suspended sentence
6. Pet Theft Reform would give courts access to appropriate custodial sentences to act as a deterrent, provide punishment, and protect the public
What is Pet Theft Reform?
Pet Theft Reform is the evidence-based campaign to make pet theft crime a specific offence with access to appropriate custodial sentences.
The Pet Theft Reform campaign was created by Dr Daniel Allen in collaboration with the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance (Sampa) in 2018. Sampa have been lobbying to make pet theft a specific offence since 2014.
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​Dr Allen's three government Pet Theft Reform petitions passed 100,000 signatures in three consecutive years; generating national media coverage, parliamentary debates, and gaining public, charity, and cross-party support.
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Reclassify the theft of a pet to a specific crime in its own right (2018)
Pet Theft Reform: Amend animal welfare law to make pet theft a specific offence (2019)
Make pet theft crime a specific offence with custodial sentences (2020)
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The Pet Theft Reform Team is now promoting a fourth government petition to show the growing public support for reform:
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Which organisations support Pet Theft Reform?
