Dog stolen? What to do, and how to prevent it
If you think your dog has been stolen, act straight away. These steps and prevention tips follow Dogs Trust's dog theft advice.
If your dog has been stolen
Report it to the police
Get a crime reference number and ask for your dog to be recorded as stolen, not missing.
Tell your council's dog warden
Tell your microchip database
Let them know your dog has been stolen.
Alert rescues, charities and vets
Ask them to look out for your dog.
Watch places a thief might sell
Keep an eye on pet websites, pet shops and notice boards. If you spot your dog, tell the police straight away.
Spread the word
Register on a missing pet site such as DogLost. Make a poster with a recent photo and where and when your dog was last seen, share it widely, and search local "found dog" posts too.
The law on dog theft
The Pet Abduction Act 2024 made dog abduction a specific criminal offence in England and Northern Ireland from 24 August 2024. The maximum penalty is 5 years in prison, a fine, or both.
How to prevent dog theft
- Don't leave your dog alone in a public place, even briefly, or alone in a car
- Supervise your dog in the garden, and fit sturdy locks on gates and a sensor light
- On walks, keep your dog in sight and work on a reliable recall
- Check your social media privacy settings so posts about your dog don't give away your address
- Keep clear, up-to-date photos showing any distinctive markings
- Keep microchip details current and a tag with your name and address on the collar
If your dog wears a PawTrak collar
Switch on lost mode on your dog's page. Anyone who scans the collar sees an urgent banner, and can message you and share their location.
- With Premium you can create a lost poster to print or share.
- Your profile photos help people recognise your dog.
- A collar can be removed, so always report a theft to the police and your microchip database too.
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