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Dog theft in the UK: how to protect your dog

Updated 18 September 2026 · 4 min read

Dog theft is every owner's worst fear, and a few simple habits make your dog much harder to take. Since August 2024, taking a dog has been a specific crime in England and Northern Ireland, called dog abduction, with a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

At home

  • Don't leave your dog alone in the garden, especially a front garden, even for a few minutes.
  • Keep gates locked, and think about sensor lights.
  • Never leave your dog alone in a car. It's a theft risk, and on warm days it can kill.

On walks

  • Keep your dog in sight when they're off the lead, and work on a reliable recall.
  • Vary the times and routes of your walks.
  • Don't leave your dog tied up outside a shop.

Online

  • Check your social media privacy settings, so posts about your dog don't give away where you live.
  • Post walk photos after you get home, not while you're out.

Make your dog easy to identify

  • Keep your dog's microchip details up to date. It's the law, and a microchip can't be taken off.
  • Take clear photos from several angles, including any markings, and keep them somewhere you can find quickly.
  • In public, your dog must wear a collar or tag with your name and address. Some owners leave the dog's name off.
  • A tag helps honest finders reach you. Thieves can remove a collar, which is why the microchip matters too.

If your dog is stolen

  1. Report it to the police on 101, or 999 if it's happening now. Ask for a crime reference number, and make sure your dog is recorded as stolen, not missing.
  2. Ask your microchip database to mark your dog as stolen, and give them the crime reference number. If the chip is scanned, whoever scans it is told.
  3. Tell your council's dog warden, and local vets and rescue centres, and send them photos.
  4. Register your dog on DogLost and share posts in local groups.
  5. Keep an eye on pet selling websites and noticeboards, where stolen dogs are sometimes advertised.
  6. If your dog wears a PetTag, turn on lost mode, so anyone who scans the tag sees your dog is missing.

Quick answers

Is dog theft a specific crime in the UK?+

Since August 2024, dog abduction has been a specific offence in England and Northern Ireland, with a maximum of five years in prison. Taking a dog can also be charged as theft.

What should I do first if my dog is stolen?+

Call the police on 101 (or 999 if it's happening now), get a crime reference number and ask for your dog to be recorded as stolen, not missing. Then ask your microchip database to mark your dog as stolen.

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice.