Like Lady Gaga, I know the heartbreak of dog theft Fuelled by increased demand during the pandemic, thieves are targeting our pets – as Melissa Cole found out the hard way The singer has offered a $500,000 reward for the return of her French bulldogs Credit: UNPIXS The shocking news this week that Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot as two of her French bulldogs were stolen will be seen by some as an ‘American problem’ or even a celebrity story. But the incident highlights a pandemic-fuelled wave of violent dog thefts and assaults on both sides of the Atlantic. By the end of 2020, dog theft in the UK had skyrocketed by 250 per cent amid increased demand for canine company during lockdowns.