Thousands urge tougher action against dog thieves

More than 138,000 people have signed an online petition calling for stronger penalties against dog theft in Scotland.

Michelle Boyd started the petition after concern for her own welfare grew while out walking a new puppy she got just seven months ago.

She found reports of violence and attempts at dognapping were on the increase as the cost of a puppy can be up to £3,500 – also leading to a rise in puppy farms with apparent links to organised crime.

Police in Tayside and Fife have been investigating a number of recent attempted dog thefts.

They included a spate last month, one of which involved a 14-year-old boy being approached on Stannergate by three men, who attempted to take his dog’s lead from him.

In another incident, a woman was pushed to the ground on the path alongside the Dighty Burn between Drumgeith Park and Baldovie by a man who grabbed her dog then released it.

Some days earlier, Mikey Morrison contacted the police after two men attempted to “coax” his white German Shepherd, Luna, out of a private garden on Huntly Place.

Last October Blairgowrie gamekeeper Craig Brown had three dogs taken – two were male Jack Russells which were found roaming streets in Bromsgrove, south of Birmingham, more than 400 miles from home.

The third, a springer spaniel, has never been found.

The same month police warned dog owners to be on their guard after a man tried to steal two pets from a woman in Dunfermline.

Ms Boyd, from Balloch, said she only expected “my best case scenario would have been if I managed to get 5,000 signatures”.

She added: “I looked into it and I saw that the penalties for dog thefts are completely inadequate – if someone steals your dog it’s treated the same as if they steal your mobile phone and the most common penalty is usually a £250 fine.

“I just started the petition to see how much traction it would get; the point behind it is a view to trying to get sentencing for people that steal dogs to be much more appropriate.

“One of the few things you could do during the pandemic is walk your dog and you didn’t feel comfortable because you were scared somebody was going to leap out of a van and steal them.”

The petition is at change.org/p/scottish -government-strongerpenalties-for-dog-theft

SAFETY FIRST: Michelle Boyd started the campaign due to concerns over her welfare.