Dogs Trust has welcomed the new Pet Abduction Act , which comes into force this Saturday (August 24).

From Saturday, anyone found guilty of stealing a dog in England or Northern Ireland will face up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.

Previously, despite the very distressing nature of having a dog stolen, pet theft has not been a specific crime and has instead been treated in the same way as the theft of household items such as phones and bikes.

Under the new Pet Abduction Act, dogs and cats are no longer treated as inanimate objects but instead are recognised as sentient beings capable of experiencing emotional trauma when they are stolen from their owners.

Paula Boyden, veterinary director at Dogs Trust, said: “We are delighted to see the Pet Abduction Act come into force, and that it recognises the emotional bond between dog and owner. For years, Dogs Trust has called for harsher penalties to deter those who profit from this despicable crime and to tackle the issue of pet theft here in the UK.

“Having your beloved pet stolen is an extremely stressful, heart-breaking experience. For most owners, pets are members of the family, and being separated from them, without knowing where they are, is devastating. However, despite the obvious emotional impact pet theft has on families and owners, until now it has been treated no differently to mobile phone or laptop theft.”