Pets: Sales and Theft

(asked on 25th January 2021) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle (a) pet theft and (b) illegal dog sales.


Answered by
Kit Malthouse Portrait
Kit Malthouse
This question was answered on 28th January 2021

The Government recognises the emotional trauma that the theft of a much-loved pet can cause and the impact it can have on an individual or family.

The theft of a pet is a criminal offence under the Theft Act 1968 and carries a maximum penalty of 7 years’ imprisonment. The Government expects the police to record all such crimes reported to them so that they can determine how best to investigate.

It is a legal requirement that dogs must be microchipped and their details recorded on a database. This assists police to reunite stolen pets with their owners.

Commercial third-party sales of puppies and kittens were banned in England from 6 April 2020. This prevents pet shops, pet dealers and other commercial outlets from selling these animals in England unless they themselves have bred them. It means anyone looking to get a puppy or kitten must buy direct from a breeder or consider adopting from a rescue centre instead. In addition to, and ahead of, the ban coming into force, the Government launched a national communications campaign (Petfished) to raise awareness of issues associated with low-welfare and illegal supply of pets. This includes providing clear signposting on where responsible breeders and rehoming centres can be found and encouraging prospective buyers to research the seller thoroughly before they visit and decide to purchase. The campaign provides a list of red flags for buyers to look out for when searching for a pet online. More information can be found here: https://getyourpetsafely.campaign.gov.uk/

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