It’s a tragedy every good dog owner fears will happen to their beloved pooch.
But canine theft is an all too common problem in the UK – with certain breeds proving more at risk than others.
Trendy French Bulldogs were found to be the most common breed for dognapping in 2024, with 51 snatched nationwide – an increase of more than a third (38 per cent) compared to 2023.
Celebrity owners of the fashionable breed are thought to be driving a surge in its popularity, and include David Beckham and Lady Gaga – who herself had two Frenchies stolen in 2021.
Around 1,808 dogs were snatched across the UK last year in total – the equivalent of five every single day, new analysis of police force data by Direct Line revealed.
English bulldogs proved the second most stolen breed, with 37 incidents reported – followed by Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Chihuahuas, XL Bullies and Labradors.
But other breeds are also proving at risk of dognapping, with thousands of pet owners across the UK left with the agonising question of where their four-legged family member went – and if they’ll ever see them again.
Jason Shutt, of Ruislip, Northwest London, lost his beloved pug Ozzie when his house was broken into by burglars on February 10.
Ozzie, who is eight-years-old and relies on medication after struggling with cancer, was sleeping upstairs when robbers raided the family home last month.
French Bulldogs were found to be the most common breed for dognapping in the UK last year, with 51 snatched nationwide (Stock photo of the breed)
Ozzie, an eight-year-old pug, has been missing since burglars raided his owners’ home in Ruislip, Northwest London, in February
Since then, Ozzie’s owners have been tirelessly trying to trace their little dog – terrified for his welfare and left heartbroken at the loss of who they consider a family member.
‘It’s awful. It’s a piece of the family that’s missing,’ Mr Shutt told MailOnline.
‘We’re in the middle of moving, and everything you do is shadowed by the fact that your head is completely focused on trying to find Ozzie and what you can do next. It’s the feeling of uselessness.’
Mr Shutt said he still spends hours looking for Ozzie in the evenings, and is petrified for his wellbeing.
‘I would understand if Ozzie was a young male able to breed,’ the owner said.
‘He’s elderly, he’s been ill in he past; he’s ok now but he still needs treatment.
‘If they did take him, it wouldn’t be long until they realise there’s not much they can do with him.’
Mr Shutt said there is a chance Ozzie ran out of the house after being spooked by the burglars, but deemed this unlikely as he does not run on his walks and was upstairs at the time.
Celebrity owners of the trendy French Bulldog breed include Lady Gaga (pictured), who herself has had dogs stolen by thieves
David Beckham (pictured) has also owned the trendy breed, possibly driving the surge in its popularity
Pet owner Nicky Roe lost her beloved Miniature Pinscher Diddy (pictured) to theft six years ago
Pet owner Nicky Roe also lost her beloved Miniature Pinscher Diddy to theft six years ago.
‘Having a dog go missing, is the worst feeling in the world… it’s constant pain with no closure! Totally life changing turn your world upside down,’ she said.
‘No answers… just a continuous confusion of what happened? Where are they? Are they ok? Will I ever know? Will I ever see her again?’
Since then, Ms Roe has sold her home and opened up a dog rescue centre.
Around one in five (19 per cent) missing dogs were returned to their owners in 2024, one of the lowest levels of pets reunited in the insurer’s decade of tracking dog thefts.
The Pet Abduction Act came into effect in May 2024, making pet theft a criminal offence in England and Northern Ireland. The crime is punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.
For the past 10 years Direct Line has been tracking dog theft, with 23,430 dogs reported stolen to police in that time. Only 5,005 (21 per cent) of those dogs have been returned.
The top year for thefts was 2021, when 2,760 dogs were tragically snatched from their owners.
Overall, dog theft has declined by over a fifth (22 per cent) in the past decade, a positive step but still an ongoing and widespread problem.
Given French Bulldogs can fetch up to £5,000 if purchased from a reputable breeder, it is little wonder they were the most snatched dog of 2024 – with criminals able to secure large sums of money for the animals by selling them on.
Celebrity owners of the trendy breed include Beckham and Lady Gaga, who herself has had Frenchies stolen by thieves.
Two thirds (65 per cent) of dog owners agree that celebrity culture and social media are driving demand and subsequently theft of certain dog breeds.
Rottweilers saw the highest rise in thefts, a 180 per cent year-on-year increase. This was closely followed by Border Collies at 160 per cent (from five to 13) and Chihuahuas at 86 per cent (from 14 to 26).
In contrast, thefts of XL Bullies have dropped significantly since 2023, down by nearly half (49 per cent).
The decline is likely linked to the ban on the breed, which was introduced in England and Wales in February 2024.
Adam Burgin, Head of Direct Line Pet Insurance, said: ‘As a nation of pet lovers we hope to continue the downward trend in the number of stolen dogs.
Diddy, who would be around 11 now, vanished around six years ago, her owner said
Ozzie’s owner Jason Stutt is still tirelessly trying to track down his pet, terrified for his wellbeing as he relies on medication after battling cancer
Ozzie was sleeping upstairs when robbers raided the family home in Ruislip last month
Our research over the last decade has shown dog theft is a persistent issue and hopefully the Pet Abduction Act 2024 will encourage a change in criminal behaviour in the long-term.
‘Those who have fallen victim to dog theft will know the intense stress and trauma that comes with having their beloved pet snatched away from them, often with no closure on knowing what happened to a member of their family.’
Despite a decline in reported dog thefts, fear of theft remains a major concern for the estimated 28 per cent of UK adults owning a dog.
Six in ten (61 per cent) dog owners say they are worried about the possibility of their dog being stolen, while more than a third (33 per cent) say they feel ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ worried.
