UK Pet Insurance News

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

 

Dognapping epidemic hits the UK

Many British dog owners are fearing for the safety of their pets after a recent spate of dognapping.

Research from Direct Line Pet Insurance reveals that almost one in 20 dog owners who have lost their pet (4%) believe it was deliberately stolen and more than 39% say they are worried that their dog will be snatched.

The public's awareness of this pet crime is at an all time high, particularly following the recent suspected theft of Liz Hurley's puppy, Emily, and Engelbert Humperdink's German Shepherd, Charnie.

A result, just under half (48%) of those surveyed have fitted their dog with a microchip to make sure they can keep track of their movements. Others are taking more traditional precautions, with a quarter of owners (22%) admitting they never let their dog off the lead for fear of them being snatched and 13% never venturing out with their pets after dark.

Should the worst happen, it would seem that money is no object when it comes to dog's safe return. Dog owners are prepared to offer an average reward of over £450 to get their dog back. Londoners would stump up the most at a massive £714, with people from Wales prepared to pay the least, at just £203.

Some dog owners would go to more extreme lengths to retrieve their pet. 95% would take the matter to the police and close to one in 20 (4%) say they would hire a private detective to hunt for their favourite pet.

Business Manager at Direct Line Pet Insurance, Chris Price, said: ''There have been a few cases of dognapping reported recently and this type of crime appears to be on the increase. We would strongly advise all dog owners to have their pets microchipped ? obviously this won't prevent them being stolen but it will help owners track them down. In the event of a suspected theft they should contact the police immediately and alert their insurance company. They may be eligible for money to help them track down their pets and to go towards a reward incentive."

The lengths dog owners would go to reflect the bond they have with their four-legged companions. Over two thirds (68%) said they would be devastated if they didn't have their pet, with 61% comparing the loss to losing a friend. A quarter (28%) revealed they could not imagine life without their beloved pet.

posted by UK Insurance Index  @ 10:48 PM

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