Welcome to vnonline.co.uk

vnonline.co.uk provides the veterinary nursing profession with the latest news and industry developments, as well as events, resources, learning materials and careers.

Our website is dedicated to veterinary nurses and we strive to provide a platform where you can voice and explore your interests.

Not a member yet? Sign up for free!

Register for free with vnonline.co.uk to gain unlimited access to news, resources, jobs and much more!



Click here to become a member






Log in to vnonline

Forgot your password?

Posted: 19th November 2021

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. 



Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history



Latest news | Careers | Events | Resources | Contact us | Terms and conditions | Data Protection and Privacy |Cookie policy | About us | Copyright
© 2024 Vision Media, all rights reserved. vnonline.co.uk is not responsible for the content of external websites.