Emotional turmoil when a pet is stolen is comparable to losing a child, research shows

Anyone who owns a dog knows the unbreakable bond you share with your pet.

Now research has confirmed that they really do feel part of the family. Research shows that the emotional turmoil of stealing a dog is comparable to losing a child.

Researchers interviewed owners whose dogs were stolen and asked them to describe their experiences and needs.

Most participants compared the emotional upheaval caused by the event to that of losing a child or other family member.

This included feelings of sadness, grief, despair, hopelessness and numbness combined with fear.

Some even said they felt the loss was more intense than the death of a friend or family member because of the close bond they had with their pet.

The findings support the idea that dogs are truly part of the family, the team said.

Further analysis also revealed that the situation could have been made worse by the way the dog was stolen – either through physical violence or by entering someone’s home without permission.

Akaanksha Venkatramanan, from Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘This study explored the experiences and needs of dog carers when faced with dog theft and the results validated an overlap of characteristics between human and non-human relationships.

‘It provides evidence of the intense love for dogs and the parental responsibility of guardians.’

There are 13 million dog owners in the UK alone, and having a pet has been shown to improve mental and physical health.

There are 13 million dog owners in the UK alone, and having a pet has been shown to improve mental and physical health (stock image)

They also provide companionship and are a source of comfort for many, especially those who would experience significant loneliness without them.

The researchers highlight how having a dog buffers against the negative impact of loneliness experienced during Britain’s COVID-19 lockdowns, as dogs give people a reason to leave the house for walks, exercise and spending time in nature.

Unfortunately, the result of many more people raising dogs during this time resulted in a spike in breeding, an increase in the cost of puppies for sale and theft during the pandemic.

While 3.2 million pets were bought during lockdown, there were also more than 2,000 reports of stolen dogs – a 250 per cent increase on dog thefts before the Covid outbreak.

Currently, dog theft laws only consider sprockets as stolen property, just like having a tangible asset such as a stolen bicycle.

Some participants said the psychological problems they experienced were exacerbated by a lack of understanding of how much an animal companion can mean to someone.

The team said they hope their findings can lead to more support being provided to those who have had their dogs stolen.

Dr. Lindsey Roberts, an expert on the human-animal bond and senior lecturer at the University of the West of England, said: ‘This research was launched when my friends’ dog, Lola, was stolen from under her nose in her back garden by someone of whom we Presumably posed as a delivery person.

‘The suffering shocked everyone, and I felt more needed to be done to support those who had their dogs stolen.

‘We interviewed people who have experienced theft, and have since developed a questionnaire that aims to highlight the areas where people need the most support in dealing with the theft of their dogs to help alleviate the suffering.’

The findings were published in the journal Human-Animal Interactions.