Dog thefts rose by 5% in 2025, with nearly 1,200 incidents recorded across the UK, according to a new report. Despite many owners fearing their pets will be taken in public, almost three-quarters of stolen dogs were taken from their home or garden, while just 13% of thefts happened in public places.
Home Security Gaps
Only 27% of owners have enhanced their home security to ward off thieves. Only 11 dog theft cases – 1.4% – resulted in a charge or summons, while one in five owners did not know they were responsible for keeping their pet's microchip details up to date. Across both cat and dog cases combined, only approximately one in 80 cases led to a criminal charge.
Indy Sangha, CEO of Pet Database, warned: "Owners are doing everything they can to protect their pets on walks, while the data shows thieves are coming to the front door."
Most Stolen Breeds
Pet owners are being urged to improve home security and ensure their contact details on microchip databases are kept up to date. The five most stolen breeds are: Staffordshire Bull Terrier; French Bulldog; Dachshund; German Shepherd; and Cocker Spaniel.
