Devastatingly, the number of dogs stolen each year in the UK has risen over the past five years and as of 2019, stood at a shocking five a day. Only one in five are ever returned, with the majority being sold for a huge undeserved profit.
Last week a van with five dogs in it was stolen at 7 pm in Orpington. Their owner was desperate to have them returned as many were incredibly important to her, such as a support dog for her mental health and another left to her in her father's will. This malicious act is sadly just one example among thousands yet it highlights the deeper impact that stealing a dog can create.
Thankfully, this was one of the lucky few stories with a happy ending. The van was discovered shortly after in Bexley by a stranger with all five dogs safely returned to their owners. It appeared to have been abandoned suspiciously in a car park and the man who found it immediately called the owner's friend. Eventually, the dogs were thankfully reunited with their owner.
However, as the statistics show, few cases have this ending. For example, at the beginning of this month, a bulldog puppy was stolen at knifepoint also in Orpington. The police said that two men got out of a car and committed the crime at 8:50 in the morning. Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be any progress in the case despite having a detailed description of the driver.
Both of these examples take place in Orpington in the same month, showing how close to home these crimes can be, without anyone even realising. It also shows how difficult it can be to catch the criminal even when we know what they look like.
By Charlotte Brereton, Newstead Woods
