3.8 Million Cats and Dogs Have Gone Missing in Last Five Years

25th May, 2009

Research from Sainsbury's Finance has shown that 12 per cent of people who currently own a cat, or have owned a cat within the last five years, have experienced losing their pet. 4 per cent of dog owners have experienced the same, with figures on both cat and dog losses equating to 3.8 million.

6 per cent of people who lost their pet claimed their animal was undoubtedly stolen, while 14 per cent believed their pet might have been a victim of theft. Motives behind animal theft include re-selling of animals, as well as ransoming animals back to their owners. Research has shown that the breeds of dogs that are most commonly stolen are Staffordshire Bull Terriers, German Shepherds, Jack Russells, Rottweilers, Border Collies and Labradors.

Lucy Hunter, the Pet Insurance Manager at Sainsbury's , told easier.com:

"It's a huge worry that so many cats and dogs are going missing, and very alarming that such a large number of pet owners believe their pet was stolen. Given our findings and the fact that the Pets Bureau says that a third of dogs reported as missing are recorded as stolen, pet-knapping is a very real crime that should be taken seriously."

"Just last year more than 50 cats went missing in Stourbridge, West Midlands, with many owners fearing that they had been stolen. The area became known as a feline Bermuda Triangle."

Sainsbury's Finance research also revealed that 55 per cent of pet owners whose animals went missing over the last five years did not find their pet alive: while 32 per cent reported that their pet never returned, 14 percent found their animal dead.

Insurers and industry specialists have issued several tips on how to reduce the chances of a pet going missing, including: ensuring your pet wears a collar and identification tag, having your pet micro-chipped, keeping your garden fences and boundaries secure to keep your pet from escaping, and avoiding leaving your pet unattended in public areas - such as tying a dog up outside a shop. Pet owners are also advised to secure a pet insurance policy that covers costs associated with missing pets, including advertising, rewards, and compensation if the pet is not returned.

Link to this Insurance News Item

Here's a handy little insurance news html snippet which you can put directly into your website or blog to link to this story:

This will appear on your site as follows:
Insurancewide News Story: 3.8 Million Cats and Dogs Have Gone Missing in Last Five Years.