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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 19th November 2021
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Kennel Club welcomes new dog theft offence
Figures released by the Kennel Club show that 196 families every month are affected by pet theft.
“This is a win that can help to deliver justice to both the poor dogs and families victim to this devastating crime" - Mark Beazley, Kennel Club.

The Kennel Club has welcomed the Government’s plans to introduce legislation that will make abducting dogs a criminal offence in England.

Under the new law, set out within the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, those found guilty of dog theft could face up to five years in jail. 

The move follows extensive lobbying by the Kennel Club and other animal organisations to bring about stronger sentencing and better reporting to tackle this devastating crime.

Mark Beazley, chief executive at The Kennel Club, commented: “We wholeheartedly welcome this next step from the Government, introducing a new and specific offence to tackle pet theft, and highly commend the hard and persistent work of every organisation who has been raising awareness of this issue and calling for action for many years.

 “This is a win that can help to deliver justice to both the poor dogs and families victim to this devastating crime, and we hope that this amendment moves swiftly through parliament, to protect the nation’s much-loved pets.” 

Dogs are currently treated in law in the same way as stolen laptops or mobile phones. This new offence, announced on Thursday (18 November), will reflect the emotional distress of pet theft and help judges hand down more targeted penalties. 

In May this year, the Government formed a Pet Theft Taskforce to help tackle the surge in animal abductions resulting from the coronavirus lockdowns.  Throughout its Paw and Order Campaign, the Kennel Club urged action from the Taskforce and encouraged thousands of UK dog lovers to write to their MP.

Statistics garnered as part of the campaign revealed the scale of pet theft, showing that a staggering 196 families every month are affected by the crime. The statistics also revealed that just two per cent of dog theft cases in 2020 resulted in a criminal charge. 

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.