Up to 20 dogs stolen daily with some being ransomed

As many as 20 dogs a day are being stolen by a gang in Co Kildare, with gardaí confirming that in some cases they are returned to owners for a reward which is in effect a ransom.

Last weekend, Athy gardaí warned that people driving a silver Volkswagen Passat, possibly a MH registration, were stealing dogs.

Yesterday, the Kildare Animal Foundation said it was receiving “between 10 and 20 calls a day” from people whose dogs are suspected of having been stolen.

Foundation volunteer Dan Donoher said many of the animals being taken were pure breed pedigree dogs, amid suspicion that some of the dogs are being taken for dog fighting and others for breeding.

“We are getting 10 to 20 calls a day regarding dogs going missing in the Kildare area.

“They are either being used as bait dogs or being sold on to the UK.”

Volunteers at the Animal Foundation suspect that some of the dogs, including West Highland terriers and jack russells, are being stolen to order for breeding purposes.

Dogs have been stolen from streets and front and rear gardens and the Kildare Animal Foundation said the spate of thefts illustrated the need for all dogs to be collared and microchipped.

Sgt Tom Harte of Athy gardaí said dog theft was “an ongoing problem” and not confined to Co Kildare.

He said the gang responsible for the recent thefts could be based anywhere in the greater Midlands area and many of the thefts were opportunistic.

“Some, we believe, would be taken for fighting, a minority, but others would be sold on. Other dogs could be returned when rewards are claimed.”

He said he had heard in some cases hundreds of euro would be handed over as a reward for the return of a dog, in what was effectively a ransom payment.

“Microchipping is essential. It is probably the most important element [in deterring thefts].”

He said the investigation into the thefts was continuing and was based on good information, with confirmed sightings of the vehicle with dogs in its boot.