What's also dreadful, Janice, is that despite multiple petitions and discussions in parliament, our wonderful government is still quite happy that the laws that relate to stealing a mobile phone are applicable to stealing someone's pet. They refuse to increase the punishment. That is appalling. For many, their pet is their companion and soulmate who they love dearly and who they put at the centre of their life. Not most people's attitude to their mobile phone. Unfortunately lockdown has created demand, and a recent survey claimed that a huge number of people would look the other way even if they felt the pet they were being offered was of dodgy origin - eg would be quite happy to accept as stolen from a loving owner, a puppy farm where its Mum and probably Dad too are kept in slum conditions, in the dark and cold on bare concrete floors and barely fed and watered, never let out, walked or socialised and just treated as breeding machines. I find that utterly heartbreaking that people can be so selfish and callous. And unfortunately it's not just dogs that are being stolen - cats too. At best they are then sold for a high sum to someone who may look after them, but if not neutered will be bred until they die of exhaustion/lack of care as they will get no vet treatment and minimum food, or used as bait animals to train fighting dogs.
Claire Moran ● 2125d