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.