Like Lady Gaga, my dog was stolen – it broke my heart
Fuelled by demand during the pandemic, thieves are targeting pets, as Melissa Cole has discovered
It’s not just a dog that has been taken, it’s a family member, and our faith in humanity
The shocking news this week that Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot as two of her French bulldogs were stolen will be seen by some as an “American problem” or even a celebrity story. But the incident highlights a pandemic-fuelled wave of violent dog thefts and assaults on both sides of the Atlantic. By the end of 2020, dog theft in the UK had skyrocketed by 250 per cent amid increased demand for canine company during lockdowns.
Sadly, it’s something my family has bitter experience of. Our two springer spaniels were stolen, alongside six others, while staying at a family friend’s kennel in Bedfordshire last September, and one is still missing.
My then 75-year-old father was going to Scotland on a fishing trip, and had taken them back to the breeder of the youngest dog, Tig, who was only four years old.
We’ve had Tig and Jess, our black and white, since they were puppies; they are part of the fabric of our family life. Dad had trained them day in, day out, as gun dogs and they are the last pair he is likely to have.
I was there the moment Jess came home with us. She got a bit too adventurous on the patio and panicked, and when I laid down to calm her, she crawled into my hair, comforted by it. Ever since, it’s been the way we say hello to each other.
When Tig came along, they soon became firm friends, often sleeping cuddled up together. We adored them both, and they showed the same love and affection back.
So when the phone call came that day, at 7am, to tell us the dogs had been taken, we were distraught – my dad most of all. My mum’s blood pressure shot up so high she nearly called an ambulance.
The thieves were in and out in no time, scaling a 12ft fence, smashing a fire door and taking just 10 minutes to steal the dogs, not caring about the CCTV. They came late at night and took the eight dogs in the kennels, threatening the kennel owner with serious violence when he heard them taking the dogs and tried to stop them.
I’m surprised that the kennel owner – who I am not going to name as his business and mental health has suffered enough – didn’t get hurt trying to defend the dogs, as he loves them more than life, and I believe only real fear for his safety would have stopped him.
I knew the odds of getting dogs like this – pedigree, immaculately trained and unspayed (we were going to breed from them) – back without serious publicity were zero. My sister and I carpeted social media and brought as much pressure as we could on Bedfordshire police force.
Fortunately, it worked – partially. After two weeks, a joint operation was launched with neighbouring Hertfordshire police, which recovered 12 dogs – one of which was our Jess and another the kennel owners’ last remaining breeding bitch.
Two men and a woman from the St Albans area were arrested on suspicion of burglary in connection with the incident. A man in his 40s was further arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, while a man and a woman in their 30s were both also arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and an 18-year old man on suspicion of handling stolen goods and possession of a firearm.
When we went to collect Jess, she was a shell of herself, not even wagging her tail when she saw my dad. She just crept into the car boot and into her bed, shaking, battered, stinking and terrified.
Despite being rail thin, she wasn’t even interested in being hand-fed one of her favourite biscuits. She just sat quivering, her eyes dull.
When she got home, she just slipped into her bed, not even making an effort to clean herself, which was deeply uncharacteristic.
It took two days for her to start coming back to life. When I was able to see her, she just wanted the quietest of cuddles. I cried into her silky ears at relief that she was back, but also with sadness that Tig was still missing.
Four months after her rescue, Jess still shows signs of the trauma, which makes me think about Tig. I am often awake at 4am, haunted by the fact that she probably came into season quite quickly after she was stolen and could be in a grotty cage somewhere, with her puppies being ripped from her, so criminals can make a profit.
Dog theft is big business and the pandemic has worsened the problem, with charities warning that owners should remain extremely vigilant.
Dogs Trust says puppy prices have increased by four to five times, with the added problem that people are not being diligent enough about the source they are buying them from. Their research late last year, showed more than a third of people bought their puppy without doing any research. Despite the issue being debated in Parliament, part of the problem is the low penalty for stealing a dog – at the same level as for the theft of a lawnmower, and with the courts and law enforcement stretched to breaking point through funding cuts and coronavirus, it remains a low priority. However, neighbourhood forums are alight with tales of dogs being snatched. In January, student Ally Knight, 22, was left with two black eyes after two men attempted to rob her of her pug in Plymouth. In December, former police officer Mike Jasper’s dog Ted – a support dog for his anxiety and depression issues – was stolen by two men who pushed him to the ground. Despite assurances by Priti Patel, the home secretary, that she is looking into the problem, the calls for a change in legislation grow ever louder, with former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith recently adding his voice.
As for my family, my sister and I are still having to go through all the forums and myriad websites where dogs are sold, searching for Tig. We all suffer from nightmares, insomnia and the thousand cuts of hope, because it’s not just a dog that these people have taken. It’s a member of our family, and a big slice of our faith in humanity, too.
RSPCA tips on preventing dog theft
♦ Never leave your dog outside a shop or in a car unattended.
♦ Train your dog to come back when called, and never let them off the lead if you’re not sure they will. If in doubt, use a long-line lead, especially if you are in an unfamiliar area
♦ Ensure your garden is secure. Fit your gate with a lock and a bell. Always keep your dog in view.
♦ Have your dog microchipped and keep your details up to date on the database. Ensure they wear a collar with name and address attached.
♦ Keep recent photos of your pet and note any distinguishing features.
♦ Neuter your pet to reduce the likelihood of roaming.
If you have any information about the theft of Tig, or any of the other dogs still not recovered from the same theft, Crimestoppers is offering a reward for information leading to their recovery. Visit crimestoppers-uk.org or call 0800 555 111.