New laws are needed to stop the high number of pet thefts happening in Ireland, according to a campaigner in Wexford.

Lisa O'Connor said stealing a dog should not be in the same class of crime as "stealing a mobile phone or deck chair," which is currently the case.

She has started an online petition, which has gained over 4,000 signatures, calling on Minister of State James Browne to follow through on past promises to reform laws around pet theft.

On Lunchtime Live today, Ms O’Connor said she runs a Facebook group that tracks and reports stolen pets in Ireland.

“I started doing it after a woman in Enniscorthy had her dog and pups stolen from a secure garden when we were in lockdown,” she said.

“The mother was found in Dublin with her microchip cut out and they never got the pups back and after seeing that, I set up the group called Missing Stolen Animals Ireland.

“For the last four years now I’ve been trying to raise awareness about what’s really happening in the country.”

Rescued French Bulldog puppies. Image: Peter Devlin / Alamy Stock Photo

Ms O’Connor said French Bulldogs are in “high demand” now, leading to an increase in thefts.

“They’re being stolen right around the country,” she said.

“I have about 30 dogs coming through my group that have been reported stolen so far this year and they’re mostly French Bulldogs.”

'People depend on pets'

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said pets are “members of the family” and people “develop emotional bonds” with them.

“Many people depend heavily on their pets in terms of company and when a pet dies, families grieve,” he said.

“Our dog who was 16 years old died about three or four months ago; I have four young kids and we were out in the back garden doing a funeral and there wasn’t a dry eye in sight.

“A pet is on a totally different level of theft than a laptop or an inanimate object.

“What we believe is that the laws should reflect that, and the law doesn’t at the moment.”

A Yorkshire Terrier. Image: andrew catterall / Alamy Stock Photo

Sandra in Dublin said there should be a “custodial sentence” for pet thefts.

“It’s a lot more serious than the people who take the dogs think,” she said.

“It’s so easy for them but the psychological effect on a family after their pet has been taken is real.

“Buster was taken six years ago, and I have looked for him every day, every month, every year since.

“He was a Yorkie, and his sister Molly is here beside me who was with him in the park when he just vanished into thin air.”

It’s estimated over 40,000 dogs are stolen every year in Ireland.

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Main image: A missing dog poster in a park in London, England, U.K. Image: Mark Richardson / Alamy Stock Photo