Around 112,000 cats and dogs are stolen every year and 419,000 are lost. This causes huge anxiety and stress for owners and understandably many will go to huge lengths to get their pets back.

Sainsbury’s Bank Pet Insurance warns that the theft of pets is on the increase as its research reveals that at least 561,000 cats and dogs have been stolen in the UK over the past five years. In addition to this, some two million have been lost. Sadly, the chances of finding a lost or stolen pet are slim, as the bank’s research reveals that only 34% are reunited with their owners.

Dogs are often taken from gardens or parks and outside shops where their owners may have left them for a short while. Some of the most frequently targeted dogs are Labradors and Lurchers and those most likely to stray include Yorkshire Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Other pedigree dogs which have become more at risk in recent years include Greyhounds, Terriers, Springer Spaniels and Pointers.

Pets are stolen for a variety of reasons, in some case to order. Pedigree and working dogs may be kept or sold on for breeding or for sporting purposes such as hunting. They may even be stolen for illegal activities such as dog fights. Others are kidnapped and ransomed for money, a crime that has become more common in recent years. It was recently reported that one young family had to pay £4,000 for their two golden retrievers Rosie and Poppy to be returned after they had been stolen from their garden. In another case, an owner paid £2,000 to have her prized pedigree dog returned and a further £300 to a go between.

Robert O’May, pet insurance manager at Sainsbury’s Bank said, “Unfortunately this is a growing problem and one we cannot ignore. Owners need to be more aware of the risks and take some simple steps to safeguard their pets where possible.”

Sainsbury’s Bank offers the following tips on pet safety:

• Ensure that your pet wears a collar and pet identification tag.
• Have your pet micro chipped. This takes seconds and is virtually painless. Consult your local vet for details.
• Keep garden boundaries as secure as possible to prevent your dog from escaping and also to deter thieves from entering.
• Always supervise your dog, whether it is in your own garden or in a public area.
• If you are going to tie your dog up outside a shop don’t leave it unattended.

If your pet does go missing, there are organisations that can help you find them. They include:

Doglost – www.doglost.co.uk 01909 733 366

Petsearch – www.ukpetsearch.freeuk.com 0121 743 4133

Missing Pets Bureau – www.missingpetsbureau.com 0870 1600 999

Sainsbury’s Bank pet insurance provides financial compensation if a cat or dog has been stolen. It also offers up to £1,000 to advertise for the return of an animal whether it is lost or stolen and a financial reward for its safe return.