Playful energetic Springer Spaniel dog in a park, tempting for thieves

A new criminal offence to tackle dognapping and "crack down on the heart-breaking issue of pet theft" has moved a step closer. Under government plans, people who steal a canine companion could face up to five years in jail if convicted of dog abduction. The offence is being added to the Kept Animals Bill, which is currently making its way through the Commons, after a recommendation by the government's pet theft taskforce in September. The taskforce, launched in May, looked into a reported rise in pet thefts during the pandemic. More than 2, 000 such incidents were reported to the police in 2020. Dognapping remains the biggest issue, with around seven in 10 incidents of pet theft recorded by police involving dogs, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The move has been welcomed by leaders from animal rights organisations. Chief veterinary officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said it is "an important step forward" with dogs being treated "as sentient beings rather than merely property".