As spring temperatures rise, more owners are allowing their dogs to spend time in the garden while they remain indoors. However, a veterinary surgeon has warned that leaving dogs unsupervised outside is contributing to an increase in thefts.
Dr Charlotte Inness, senior veterinary surgeon and founder of VetMedi, said unattended gardens are a key risk factor.
“An unattended garden is essentially a shop window for opportunistic thieves,” she said. “It only takes a moment for a dog to be snatched, often while the owner is just a few feet away inside the house.”
New data suggests more than 60 dogs are reported stolen in England and Wales every week. Last year alone, an estimated 1,808 dogs were taken, with only one in five reunited with their owners. According to the Metropolitan Police Service, around 70% of animal-related thefts involve dogs, with many cases linked to organised crime driven by high resale values online.
“Public posts can inadvertently reveal your home layout and the exact route you take for your morning walk”
Figures also indicate that 52% of dogs are stolen directly from their owner’s garden.
Dr Inness advises owners to supervise dogs at all times when outdoors, even when at home, and to treat gardens as exposed spaces rather than secure areas. She recommends regularly checking fences and gates, ensuring locks are secure and considering additional measures such as alarms or simple alert systems.
Microchipping remains a legal requirement in the UK, with dogs required to be chipped by eight weeks old and fines of up to £500 for non-compliance.
Dr Inness said, “A microchip is your pet’s silent ticket home. It is often the only way to definitively prove ownership if a dog is recovered. However, a chip is only as good as the data on it, always double-check that your phone number and address are current, especially if you have moved house recently.”
She also advised owners to be cautious about the information they share online. “Information mining is a real threat,” she said. “Public posts can inadvertently reveal your home layout and the exact route you take for your morning walk.”
Owners are also urged not to leave dogs unattended in public places or in vehicles, where they may be vulnerable to “grab and go” thefts.
Varying walking routes and remaining alert to unusual interest in a dog’s value or background may also help reduce risk.
