A significant increase in dog thefts in Cambridgeshire is leaving pet owners angry and distraught.

Many people see their pet dogs as part of the family so when the beloved pooch is stolen it can have a massive impact.

Now new data has revealed there has been a 156 per cent rise in thefts of the canine pets since 2015 bringing more misery to dog lovers.

Cambridgeshire police have revealed that a total of 41 dogs were stolen in 2018 and reported to law officials.

A total of 16 pet pooches were stolen in 2015 rising to 36 in 2017.

The request also found that there were a total of 119 dog thefts in Cambridgeshire between 2015 and 2018.

Dogs were stolen from gardens, outside shops, dog kennels as well as from inside homes during burglaries.

Of the 41 dogs stolen in 2018 a total of six were recovered.

A Cambridgeshire police spokeswoman said: “Thefts of dogs by unknown offenders are extremely rare and in the majority of cases where an animal has been reported as stolen it is part of an ongoing domestic dispute. Thankfully in most cases, dogs are returned to their rightful owners. 

“It is vital that owners make sure their dog is microchipped and that their details are updated, so in the event that they are lost or stolen, they can be returned when found.”

More than 100 dogs seized

It is not known how many pet owners fail to report dog theft to police.

But officers from Cambridgeshire police raided a traveller site on Black Pit Drove, Willingham in November last year, and seized suspected stolen goods along with more than 100 dogs.

Police arrested five people in connection to thefts of stolen property also found on the site.

Officers also found a number of stolen vehicles including cars, quad bikes, a horse trailer and a caravan at the site.

The RSPCA said that the majority of the dogs taken from the site were under two years old or puppies.

Dog snatch

In one distressing theft a cavapoo called Olive, owned by a Cambridgeshire family, disappeared for more than a week.

 Olive's owners, the King family, launched a social media campaign.

Their beloved pet was snatched from outside Direct Cycles in Chesterton on January 24.

She was eventually found 114 miles away in Wolverhampton where she had been sold on to a couple.

Distressing tale of duct tape dognap

An elderly King Charles spaniel was stolen and dumped back on the doorstep of a distraught Cambridge family with duct tape around her muzzle.

Molly was dognapped on April 30 last year in Pryor Close, Milton, when she was briefly let off the lead.

The theft was then the latest in a series of suspected dog naps in Cambridgeshire involving a roving transit van.

Owners Anastasia Jolley and partner Robert Day told the News they were so grateful their dog who has a heart condition, was found in time.

Stop the dognappings

The Blue Cross animal charity which has a pet rehoming centre in Garlic Row, Cambridge has issued advice for pet owners.

• Think twice before leaving your dog tied up outside a shop – as this makes them a ‘vulnerable and tempting’ target for opportunist thieves

• Don’t leave your dog alone in the car, even for a few minutes

• Make sure your dog is microchipped and that you keep your contact details up-to-date, especially if you move house or change your telephone number. Dogs and puppies in the UK must be microchipped by eight weeks old, by law

• Your dog should always wear a collar and ID tag with your name and address on it. This is a legal requirement when your dog is in a public place. A mobile number is also a good idea, but avoid putting your dog’s name on the disc

• Take clear photographs of your dog from various angles, and update them regularly

• Have lots of photographs of yourself with your dog, to help you to prove ownership if needed. Train your dog to come back when called, and never let them off the lead if you are not sure they will come back to you

• Take care when choosing someone to care for your dog if you are going away from home or need a dog walker whilst you go to work. Use a reputable company or boarding kennels and check references for people who provide dog or house-sitting services

• At home, make sure your garden is secure and fit a bell to the gate so you hear if anyone opens it

• If you breed puppies for sale, take great care when inviting people in to view; ideally have someone else present and limit the numbers of people you allow in at a time. Show the puppies in one secure area

If the worst happens and your dog is stolen

The Blue Cross states that if your dog is lost or suspected stolen, it is important to act quickly.

Report the loss to your local council’s dog warden and those in all other neighbouring local authorities.

Other tips include:

• Making posters and displaying them in areas local to your home and also in relevant places such as vets and local parks. The poster should include a clear photograph and details of the circumstances

• Making sure local vets are aware in case someone takes your dog in for treatment

• Reporting the loss on as many as possible of the missing animals websites – there is no single national missing animals database, so you will have to place the same information on all of them to ensure a widespread appeal

• Contacting local animal shelters and rescue charities and sending them posters to display

Blue Cross operates the national Pet Bereavement Support Service which can be contacted on 0800 096 6606 (between 8.30am and 8.30pm) or by email at pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk