Huge increase in dog thefts during lockdown year

A motion has been passed at Derry City & Strabane District Council to instigate an awareness campaign around the dangers of dog thefts, after a sharp rise in thefts in the area since the beginning of the pandemic.

Dog thefts in Northern Ireland rose by 51% in 2020 in comparison with the year before, while there were 6 dog thefts reported in Derry & Strabane, compared to 0 in 2019. In April of this year, 8 puppies were reported stolen from the Pullyernan area of Castlederg.

In the Fermanagh & Omagh District Council area, there were 5 dog thefts reported to police in 2020, a slight increase from 4 in 2019.

Despite the clear rise in dog thefts reported to police, the SDLP councillor that brought the motion forward says that the figures are still significantly under-reported.

“There is massive under-reporting on the issue and for some reason people don’t go to the police with it all the time. The numbers we have aren’t reliable but there has still been a big increase across the council area, given the amount of people that have contacted me and other councillors,” Derg councillor Steven Edwards said.

“Over the pandemic, dog prices have skyrocketed and with that thefts and attempted thefts of dogs have risen. I would say that over the past year I have had 15-20 different people contact me about dog thefts and suspicious behaviour, and that’s only in the Derg district area.”

The councillor added that confidence in policing of the issue may be the reason why the figures are uner-reported.

“I think it’s confidence in policing, do they think that the police are going to do anything or find anything? I think when people’s dogs go missing they rely on local charities more and they put the word out on social media to try and find them. I just don’t think that people are geared towards going to the police for things like this.”

“This is a big issue across the North and I’ve received multiple reports locally of dog thefts and attempted dog thefts. Dogs are like a member of our families, for some they are also the only companionship many people have had over the pandemic and I do believe it’s important people are aware of how best to protect their dogs from criminals.

Current legislation means that the theft of an animal is not treated any differently than the theft of objects such as a mobile phone or a vehicle. The rise in thefts is thought to be linked to rising prices of dogs and puppies since the onset of Covid 19, due to increased demand from families and individuals spending more time at home.

Grovehill Animal Trust chairperson Janice Porter said the increased demand for pets since the pandemic began is causing issues for both pet owners and authorities.

“Where I live myself I have even noticed more dogs out and about being walked. Lockdown has been fantastic in some ways as some dogs who would have rarely got walked are now getting out and about,” Porter said.

“Shelters have definitely noticed an increase in calls to rehome dogs. I would encourage people to please do their homework before either adopting or purchasing a dog. You can’t just get a dog and then chuck it out in the backyard when it doesn’t suit you any more.

“We’ve all heard and read about cases of puppy farming. The price of pups has gone through the roof during lockdown, and while getting a pup will work out for a lot of families, it doesn’t for everyone.”