By
Press Association 2021
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne
Dog owners are more scared of walking their pets now than this time last year amid fears of dognappers, according to a survey.
It comes after a charity recorded a 170% increase in dog theft in one year.
But campaigners say the penalties for dog theft do not match the devastating impact it can have on families who have beloved pooches taken from them.
Holly Morgan, 26, from Nottingham, had her dog stolen in August 2019 and faced sleepless nights worrying whether he was OK.
She said: “Having my dog stolen was definitely the worst, stressful and most heart-breaking situation I have ever had to go though in my life.”