Opening Statement 30th September 2025 11a.m.
Petition Title – Reform Irish Laws on Pet Theft P00014/25
Petitioner – Ms. Lisa O’ Connor. @FindYourPetIreland
Cathaoirleach and members of the Committee, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to address you today.
Cathaoirleach,
I am accompanied by Ms. Brenda Fitzpatrick and Mrs. Louise O’ Tuama from the Dog
rescue Working Animal Guardians also known as W.A.G. who are here to support me in a personal and professional capacity.
Also in the public gallery are two ladies whose dogs were stolen and are still missing. Not only have they shared their experience with me but they trust me to advocate for them.
I am here not just as a Petitioner but as an advocate for all the families I help. I want to emphasise the emotional impact of losing a pet and the need for legal recognition of pets as more than mere property.
Many years ago I had a cocker spaniel who went missing. I’ll never forget that feeling of hopelessness and having nowhere to turn for help. We did find her; she had gotten out of the house and was found not too far from home.
In 2020 as a concerned citizen, I started to notice a rise of missing and stolen dogs in Ireland being shared on Facebook. It reminded me of my personal experience and thus prompted me to set up my group Missing Stolen Animals Ireland in the hope of helping others reunite with their missing dogs.
Around 2021 it started rising considerably. Dogs stolen to order, homes targeted, chips cut out of their bodies and dogs being trafficked to the UK and further afield. Dogs were the new drugs.
I started looking at Ireland’s theft laws specifically if a dog is stolen.
I found out that Irish law considers dogs and other family pets to be mere property.
This means that if someone steals a family pet, such as a dog, it is punished in the same way as if someone steals any non-living object, such as a mobile phone or a power tool.
I reached out to TD’s specifically Justice Ministers and An Garda Síochána to understand what was being done to tackle this cruel crime.
The Department of Justice in the last Government looked at changing legislation
specifically at how a dog might be classed but unfortunately it didn’t happen.
I started an uplift petition during the last Government term. Today it stands at just over 10,000 signatures.
Through my Facebook group “Missing Stolen Animals Ireland” I have witnessed hundreds of dogs being stolen around Ireland in the past 5 years.
The Law
The theft of pets is covered as stolen property in the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
The Justice Department will argue that -
“It is important to emphasise that theft offences already apply to this crime and can carry very heavy penalties.
The Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 provides for a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment in the case of offences of theft and handling of stolen property; while a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment is provided for the offence of possession of stolen property.
When imposing sentence, judges are not limited to considering the monetary value of a pet – the emotional distress to the victim caused by the offence is absolutely
relevant and can be, and is, taken into account where appropriate.”
The current legal framework in Ireland, which treats pets as mere property, fails to recognise the unique bond between humans and their companion animals.
Advocates argue that pets are not just possessions but integral members of families, providing companionship, emotional support, and even essential services such as guiding individuals with disabilities. Pet theft is a deeply distressing crime that impacts families emotionally and disrupts their lives.
The Situation in 2025
Since 2020, there has been a significant increase in reported cases of missing and stolen dogs in Ireland, with many being trafficked or used for illegal purposes.
While there has been a decrease in reported dog thefts in 2025, the issue persists.
The lack of accurate recording & data collection by An Garda Síochána complicates understanding the full scope of the issue, as data on stolen pets is not systematically tracked in the PULSE system.
This has led to inconsistencies in how cases are handled, with some pet owners reporting that their concerns are not taken seriously.
Looking back at records I have kept since 2020, so many dogs are still missing from their families.
Companion animals, dogs in particular, are still being stolen in Ireland.
When I speak to families of stolen dogs they explain to me how heartbroken they are. The not knowing of what has happened to their dog has a devasting effect. It can destroy lives, compounds trauma, used as a tool of coercion and control.
Just recently late on a Sunday night in Rathcoole, Dublin, a home was broken into. The owner was asleep upstairs. Her 5 month old puppy Belle was taken from her bed downstairs along with other items of value. It’s nearly 4 weeks since this happened. Not only was their house broken into but their much loved puppy stolen, it’s everything that comes after that ordeal and the not knowing of where their dog is now that breaks people.
When a family pet is stolen, I advise them to report the incident to An Garda Síochána, get it logged into their system and get a pulse number.
The response seems to differ depending on the station and the Garda on duty.
Sometimes the frantic owner is not taken seriously and the pet in question is not even logged into the system.
Most times the dog has disappeared into the unknown never to be seen again. Some trafficked, sold on, used as bait, bred from to live a life of misery.
Action Plan
-
Accurate recording of pet theft incidents by law enforcement is essential.
-
A National Campaign informing dog owners of the risks and what they can do if this happens to them.
-
Reforming the law to classify pet theft as a distinct crime, with strict penalties, would reflect the significant emotional and societal value of pets and act as a deterrent to this growing issue.
This was done in England and Northern Ireland and there has been a decrease in reported of thefts in Northern Ireland – See article link below.
The current situation regarding pet theft in Ireland is concerning. Pet theft remains a significant issue.
I have attached Supporting Evidence in the form of -
-
Links to the most recent Parliamentary Questions relating to Dog theft figures in Ireland.
-
A link to an article in Belfast Live publication.
-
A link to the UK Pet Abduction Act 2024.
-
A link to Newstalk Article on Dog theft from Rathcoole, Dublin.
Supporting Evidence/Facts -
8th April 2025 (as per the Departmental Data Dáil Éireann Debate)
Deputy Peadar Tóibin asked the Minister for Justice the number of family pets reported stolen in each of the past ten years, and to date in 2025.
The Written Answer from the Minister for Justice Jim O’ Callaghan -
“I am advised by the Garda authorities that the information requested is not recorded in a structured field in the PULSE system. As a result of this, An Garda Síochána are not in a position to provide this information.
A disproportionately large amount of time would be required to fulfil the request and they would not be confident in the accuracy of data compiled.”
Link to Debate -
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025- 04- 08/725/?highlight%5B0%5D=pets
9th July 2025 (as per the Departmental Data Dáil Éireann Debate)
Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of persons who reported the theft of their family pet to the Garda in each of the past five years, by county.
The Written Answer from the Minister for Justice Jim O’ Callaghan -
"I am advised by An Garda Síochána that the below table provides a breakdown of the number of reported dog thefts at national level from 2020, to date in 2025. A breakdown at Divisional level is not possible due to low volumes.
Please note that An Garda Síochána cannot say these are ‘family pets’ but instead
represent a count of all dogs stolen in any circumstance from any location. Information supplied is operational and subject to change."
| Year Reported | Dogs Stolen |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 121 |
| 2021 | 116 |
| 2022 | 51 |
| 2023 | 43 |
| 2024 | 53 |
| 2025* | 17 |
*2025 figure for 1 Jan to 30 Jun.
Link to Debate - https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-07- 29/1939/?highlight%5B0%5D=theft#pq-answers-1939
• Link to Article for Dog Theft Decrease Northern Ireland -
https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/dog-most-likely- stolen- northern-32089864
• Pet Abduction Act Northern Ireland 2024 -
News | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs pet- abduction-offences-northern-ireland
• I contacted the CSO who referred me to Gardai who advised me by email. See below -
"On behalf of the Assistant Principal, Corporate Services Office, please be advised that your correspondence to the Press Office on 19th of September 2025 has been received.
Please be advised, statistics relating to reported dog theft incidents from 2020
- 2025, can be accessed using the following link: Domestic Pets – Tuesday, 29 Jul 2025 – Parliamentary Questions (34th Dáil)."
Link to Debate - https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-07- 29/1939/?highlight%5B0%5D=theft#pq-answers-1939
• Link to Newstalk Article -
https://www.newstalk.com/news/dog-theft-2189645