Dogs Trust is urging owners to take steps to protect their beloved pets from criminals ahead of Dog Theft Awareness Day this Saturday. The charity said the recent National Dog Survey, sponsored by the People's Postcode Lottery, found a third of owners worry about the risk of their canine companion being stolen while nine out of 10 believe dogs should be treated as family members. The trust said Dog Theft Awareness Day is a chance to say 'paws off!' to criminals by following essential safety tips:

• Ensure property boundaries including garden perimeters are secure to keep dogs in and intruders out.
• Supervise dogs when they are outside including in the garden.
• Owners who post pictures of their four-legged friend on social media should review their security settings and make sure their address can't be identified from social posts.
• When walking or exercising a dog, always keep them in sight and pay attention to what they are doing._If exercising them off lead, make sure they have good recall and return when called, regardless of where they are.
• Never leave a dog unattended in a public place, even if just for a minute.
• Never leave a dog alone in a car due to the risks of theft and also overheating, even on mild days.
• Make sure dogs are searchable in case the worst should happen; this includes ensuring they wear a tag featuring their owner's name, phone number and address, and that they are microchipped._Make sure to inform the database provider of any change of address or contact details, and also keep dog photos up to date and clear, showing any distinctive features.

Dogs Trust advises owners in the event of theft to report it immediately to the police, not only obtaining a crime reference number but also insisting on it being reported as a theft rather than missing. They should then report it to the local council dog warden and notify the database chip provider. Owners can then ask local rescue centres, animal charities and vet practices to keep an eye out for the stolen pet. They are also advised to monitor pet websites and noticeboards where rogues might be trying to sell it, and victims can also make use of missing and stolen animal websites such as DogLost, which help to reunite missing pets with their owners by offering free advice and support. Dogs Trust stressed that new laws came into effect making dog and cat theft a specific offence in 2024, with anyone convicted of stealing a pet in England or Northern Ireland facing up to five years in prison, a fine, or both. Alex Findlow, Dogs Trust public affairs manager, said: "For many people, dogs are beloved family members, and the theft of a dog can have a significant emotional impact. "Thankfully, there are steps that owners can take to reduce the chances of this happening to them. "Simple steps such as not leaving your dog unattended in public places and being careful about what details you share online about your dog can help avoid the worst from happening. "And, remember to keep your dog's microchip data up to date. "This will be vital to increasing the chances of missing or stolen dogs being reunited with their owners." For more advice and information visit Dogs Trust (opens new tab).