Dog Theft
and
Personal Safety
Concerns around the rise in dog thefts in 2020-2021 led to this collaborative Dog Theft and Personal Safety campaign by Suzy Lamplugh Trust.
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Christine Eales invited Dr Daniel Allen to the team - both volunteered their time to help the Suzy Lamplugh Trust put together an evidence-based awareness campaign (sponsored by Animal Friends Pet Insurance).
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Watch this video or download the Trust's advice sheets for tips and guidance on personal safety as well as information on what to do should your dog be taken, such as reporting procedures and what evidence could be useful for a police investigation.
Sadly, fraudulent microchip websites do exist so it’s important to check which sites are reputable and have Government approval before you get your cat, dog or any other pet chipped.
Trading Standards warns against certain sites and if you’ve inadvertently registered your pet’s microchip on an unapproved database you could face a £500 fine.
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Who to Trust
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You can find the list of government approved microchip databases by visiting:
Top tip!
If you’re unsure as to which database your pet is registered with, you can find that information on the Pet Database Chip Checker.
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If your pet’s microchip registration is stored with a fraudulent site, when you enter the 15-digit number into the Chip Checker it will inform you that it is ‘not registered’.
To report an incident or any suspicious behaviour, call 101.
If the worst happens and you and your dog are targeted, ring 999.
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If you are witness to a theft, or attempted abduction, the following details may be useful to the police:
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Vehicle registration
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Characteristics of the person taking your pet
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Number of perpetrators
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Any videos or photos you can safely take
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In an emergency situation always call the police on 999.
Report theft
