What do you think?
Do we need more police stations? Join the debate by emailing letters@westerndailypress.co.uk and including your name and address
It is worrying that these vile people are now becoming so violent. And goodness knows what happens to these poor dogs. When they steal puppies they are usually too young to be taken from their mothers, so probably will die.
The owners are left bereft and the dogs treated appallingly – just recently in the news a van full of dogs was found, they were all dehydrated and some had been squashed into guinea pig cages. This is happening far too frequently.
And not only should dog theft attract harsh penalties, but so should animal cruelty. And judges should be encouraged to apply the most extreme sentences.
Mary Gillespie
Bristol think that the type of theft they have suffered should be treated more severely. Car owners feel hurt if their car is stolen but that is nothing to the anger felt by motorcyclists who usually view their machine as their most treasured possession.
The only way judges can deter thieves is by convicting a majority of them. If fines imposed were 10 times the value of the stolen pet it would not deter thieves if they thought unlikely they get caught. But if they felt there was little chance of escaping justice and the level of fine made theft unprofitable, possibly pet theft would diminish.
Mike Baker St Austell, Cornwall