North Yorkshire’s police and crime commissioner has asked pet owners in the county to give their views on dog thefts in a national survey.
It follows a spate of high-profile incidents nationally, which has led to Home Secretary Priti Patel to consider harsher penalties for offenders.
Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said the issue was becoming “more of a concern”.
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The survey, which is being run by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, aims to find out how widespread the fear of dog theft is and if there is support for tougher enforcement.
Mrs Mulligan said:
“I know that dog theft is becoming more of a concern for many people after a series of high-profile incidents across the country so it’s important owners across North Yorkshire and York have their say in this survey.
“It is still not common, but its impacts can be devastating both for individuals and families whose dogs are part of the family and for farmers and rural businesses where dogs have play a crucial role in everything they do.”
The survey will be open until March 12 and people can give their views here.
