8 months ago, Chester the cocker spaniel went missing in Hounslow. Chester isn’t just a family pet. He’s also a medical alert dog. This means Chester is supposed to alert his owner when their blood sugar drops. Cocker spaniels are an expensive breed, which is most likely why he was stolen. This raises a greater problem that affects the whole country. Many dogs have been stolen or ‘gone missing’ over the past year. This is likely due to an increase in demand for dogs during the coronavirus epidemic. Prices more than doubled in the past year, and many people took this opportunity to steal other people’s dogs and sell them. Unfortunately, this can mean new owners are unaware their dog was, in fact, stolen, leaving another owner distraught and devastated.

 

There are ways you can either stop thieves from striking or find your dogs after they’ve been taken. You should keep contact information on your dog’s collar in case they are stolen or go missing. It’s better to avoid bringing your dog on simple errands, unless you go to a dog-friendly establishment. Keeping your dog on a tight lead can also prevent them from being stolen. You should also avoid giving strangers information about your dog, such as the price or breed. You can avoid buying a stolen dog by asking for proof of ownership from the seller. If they lack the proof, the dog has most likely been stolen. Make sure to stay safe and keep your dogs safe.