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Credit: Alamy
Do you let your dogs off their leash when you’re out with them?
Dogs love spending time off-leash when it’s safe and legal to do so, but many dog parents are reluctant to let their pups run off on a walk in case they get stolen. Others are investing in the best pet cameras and home security products to help keep their pets safe.
That’s according to new research from Go.Compare. The financial comparison company found that more than six million dog owners in the UK (41% of dog owners in total) are too scared to let their dog off the leash, with older pet parents and those on lower incomes among those who feel the most vulnerable.
Almost half (46%) of those over 54 were unlikely to let their dogs off the leash, compared to 37% of under-35s. And 45% of those on lower incomes kept their dog on the leash to prevent theft, compared to just 29% of those on a higher income.
Of the owners questioned, 71% don’t leave their dog alone in public, tied up outside the store, or left in the car.
And it’s not just dog owners, either. Around four million cat parents (around 30%) won’t let their cats outdoors because they’re worried about them being stolen. Dog parents appear to be more worried, but this is perhaps because dogs are also more likely to be stolen to begin with.
For this reason, millions of pet parents have invested in technology to help protect against theft. Just under a quarter (23%) have installed home security, while 14% and 12% use pet cameras and the best GPS pet trackers respectively.
These are most popular with younger pet parents, with 21% of under-35s using GPS devices compared to only 7% of over-54s. Likewise, 19% of under-35s use pet cameras whereas just one in nine over-54s do.
Female dog owners are less likely to use GPS trackers and invest in home security to protect their dog from theft | Credit: Alamy
Men are also more likely to utilize these technologies, and are as much as twice as likely to use GPS trackers compared to women. Meanwhile, more than a quarter (26%) of male pet owners have bought smart home security, compared to 20% of female owners.
If you’d like to know how to prevent your dog being stolen, Rhys Jones, pet insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “Things like changing up your walking route and refraining from posting your pet on social media can stop you from becoming a target.
“Thieves are also less likely to steal cats that are spayed or neutered, as it means they can’t make money from breeding them, so try to include this information on an ID tag if your cat has had this procedure. Keeping your dog on a leash and accompanied in public will also help.”
Jones added that it’s important to report a stolen pet to the police straight away, and to contact your pet’s microchip database, inform your local authority, and get the message out there on noticeboards at vets, parks, and online.
Here’s how to find a lost cat and how to find a lost dog, and if you find yourself on the other side of the issue, here’s what to do if you find a lost dog
