Dognapping epidemic hits the UK
A recent spate of dognapping has left many British dog owners fearing for the safety of their pets.
New research from Direct Line Pet Insurance reveals that almost one in 20 dog owners who have lost their pet (four per cent) believe it was stolen and more than a third (39 per cent) say they are worried that their dog will be snatched.
Awareness of this pet crime is at an all time high, particularly following the recent suspected theft of Liz Hurley's puppy, Emily, and Engelbert Humperdink's German Shepherd, Charnie.
As a result, just under half (48 per cent) of those surveyed have fitted their dog with a microchip to make sure they can keep track of their movements. Others are taking more traditional precautions, with a quarter of owners (22 per cent) admitting they never let their dog off the lead for fear of them being snatched and 13 per cent never venturing out with their pets after dark.
If their dog was taken though it would seem that money is no object when it comes to its safe return. Dog owners are prepared to offer an average reward of over £450 to get their stolen dog back. Londoners would offer the most and are willing to pay a massive £714 for their dog's return, with people from Wales prepared to pay the least, at just £203.
Some owners would go to extreme lengths to retrieve their pet. Ninety five per cent would take the matter to the police and close to one in 20 (four per cent) say they would hire a private detective to hunt for their favourite pet.
The lengths dog owners would go to reflect the bond they have with their four-legged friends. More than two thirds (68 per cent) said they would be devastated if they didn't have their pet, with 61 per cent comparing the loss to losing a friend. A quarter (28 per cent) revealed they could not imagine life without their pet.
Chris Price, Business Manager at Direct Line Pet Insurance, said:
''There have been a few cases of dognapping reported recently and this type of crime appears to be on the increase. We would strongly advise all dog owners to have their pets microchipped – obviously this won't prevent them being stolen but it will help owners track them down. In the event of a suspected theft they should contact the police immediately and alert their insurance company. They may be eligible for money to help them track down their pets and to go towards a reward incentive."
-ends-
For further information please contact:
Carmel McCarthy
Direct Line Press Office
Tel: 0845 8782178
Email: armel.McCarthy@Directline.com
Notes to editor
Research was carried out in May 2005 by YouGov Plc who questioned a representative sample of 1,114 UK adults.
Direct Line Insurance plc, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Calls may be recorded. Conditions apply.
REGIONAL STATISTICS TABLE 2 (Midlands, North West, North East, Yorkshire & the Humber, Scotland)
|
Dog owners who:
|
Midlands
|
North West
|
North East
|
Yorks & the Humber
|
Wales
|
Scotland
|
| have lost a pet who believe it was stolen |
4%
|
6%
|
2%
|
7%
|
4%
|
0%
|
|
are worried their pet will be stolen
|
36%
|
39%
|
31%
|
41%
|
27%
|
32%
|
|
have fitted their pet with a microchip
|
41%
|
57%
|
48%
|
45%
|
45%
|
49%
|
|
never let their pet off the lead
|
18%
|
24%
|
25%
|
31%
|
22%
|
30%
|
|
never take their pet out after dark
|
7%
|
19%
|
16%
|
14%
|
11%
|
13%
|
| would inform the police if their pet was stolen |
96%
|
93%
|
97%
|
96%
|
93%
|
95%
|
| would hire a private detective if their pet was stolen |
3%
|
3%
|
5%
|
5%
|
3%
|
4%
|
| would be devastated without their pet |
66%
|
72%
|
70%
|
71%
|
61%
|
76%
|
| would compare the loss of a pet to the loss of a friend |
62%
|
62%
|
53%
|
56%
|
68%
|
55%
|
|
could not imagine life without their pet
|
28%
|
29%
|
23%
|
28%
|
20%
|
35%
|
| |
Midlands
|
North West
|
North East
|
Yorks & the Humber
|
Wales
|
Scotland
|
|
Average reward dog owners would offer to get their dog back
|
£609.52
|
£383.68
|
£296.88
|
£577.46
|
£203.19
|
£345.78
|
REGIONAL STATISTICS TABLE 1 (National, London, South West, South East, East Anglia)
| Dog owners who: |
National
|
London
|
South West
|
South East
|
East Anglia
|
|
have lost a pet who believe it was stolen
|
4%
|
3%
|
4%
|
4%
|
4%
|
|
are worried their pet will be stolen
|
39%
|
51%
|
31%
|
53%
|
37%
|
|
have fitted their pet with a microchip
|
48%
|
48%
|
48%
|
58%
|
43%
|
|
never let their pet off the lead
|
22%
|
19%
|
23%
|
14%
|
21%
|
|
never take their pet out after dark
|
13%
|
13%
|
12%
|
13%
|
16%
|
|
would inform the police if their pet was stolen
|
95%
|
94%
|
96%
|
97%
|
97%
|
|
would hire a private detective if their pet was stolen
|
4%
|
7%
|
0%
|
4%
|
7%
|
|
would be devastated without their pet
|
68%
|
68%
|
73%
|
61%
|
66%
|
|
would compare the loss of a pet to the loss of a friend
|
61%
|
59%
|
63%
|
60%
|
62%
|
|
could not imagine life without their pet
|
28%
|
27%
|
38%
|
33%
|
26%
|
| |
National
|
London
|
South West
|
South East
|
East Anglia
|
|
Average reward dog owners would offer to get their dog back
|
£451.88
|
£714
|
£232.21
|
£410.61
|
£293.11
|
|
