And what we’re planning to make that happen
By Mark Gill, CEO of Petasure
It was during the height of the pandemic in 2020 that the truth really hit home. Behind the headlines about soaring puppy prices and record adoption rates lay a darker, far more disturbing reality: organised pet crime was booming.
At Petasure, we couldn’t ignore what we were seeing. Reports of dogs being snatched from gardens, stolen on walks, or lured from homes were rapidly increasing. Thousands were officially recorded as missing, but we knew many more went unreported.
We heard stories of microchips being cut out, animals trafficked across borders, even pets being used for baiting or illegal fighting. Some were ransomed back to owners in desperate, often heartbreaking circumstances.
These weren’t isolated incidents. This was an epidemic.
A Crime That Still Pays
Over the past few years, there has been progress. Laws have tightened. Pet theft is now a specific offence. Cats must also be microchipped under new regulations – a long-overdue development. Crucially, pet abduction now carries a maximum sentence of five years.
It’s a step in the right direction. But let’s be honest, it’s nowhere near enough.
For criminal gangs, pet theft remains an easy and lucrative trade. Ten ransomed high-value dogs in a single week could net over £30,000 – with sentences far lower than those for trafficking drugs. Class A drug offences carry a minimum five-year sentence and up to life imprisonment. Pet theft? Five years at most – and that’s if the case even goes to court.
In the criminal underworld, that’s a risk worth taking.
Time for a Stronger Response
At Petasure, we’ve built more than just an identification business. We’ve made it our mission to help combat this issue head-on. That means working directly with owners, supporting enforcement agencies, and raising awareness of the emotional and financial devastation pet theft causes.
But this isn’t a problem we can solve alone. We need greater enforcement, better cross-border cooperation, and for sentencing to reflect the true impact of this crime. Because this isn’t about property – it’s about family.
We won’t stop pushing for change. And we’ll continue doing everything we can to protect the pets at the heart of our homes.
Introducing The Petasure Foundation
One of the biggest problems we’re now seeing is that charities and shelters simply can’t keep up with the flow of recovered pets. Many are overrun, under-resourced and facing impossible decisions.
That’s why, once we reach a million annual members, Petasure pledges to launch The Petasure Foundation – a not-for-profit arm funded by our own profits.
A portion of the profits will support existing animal charities and rescue efforts, with additional funding allocated to establishing a dedicated animal sanctuary. The remaining profits will be invested in research to develop our technology for early cancer detection and other health initiatives.
Animal Shelters within our ecosystem (over 1,000 to date) will use our app as part of their identification process when lost pets arrive, and every rehomed pet will be registered on Petasure’s secure database via their insurance package and given a digital ID to ensure that if they are recovered again, they’ll get home.
A specialist team will:
- Work with lost-and-found networks and our tech to help reunite pets with their families
- Help rehome animals that cannot be reclaimed
But the Foundation’s mission doesn’t stop there.
We’ll also launch a major awareness campaign across TV, radio, social media and video-on-demand platforms, spotlighting the growing threat of pet abduction – what the data reveals, how it happens, and how owners can better protect their pets.
Fraudulent breeders are a significant part of the problem. It must become far harder for them to operate without scrutiny. That’s why the Foundation will offer free vetting for all breeders – provided every puppy is registered with a digital ID that is then transferred to the buyer.
It’s a bold vision but one we believe is urgently needed. The fight against pet crime isn’t just about tougher laws. It’s about building the infrastructure to support animals long after the headlines fade.
To find out more, or to register your pet with Petasure, visit www.petasure.co.uk.
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