Dog theft is set to be made a criminal offence under Government plans to crackdown on pet thieves.

Ministers want to change the law so it reflects the severity of the crimes carried out by pet thieves by taking into account the emotional distress it can cause the animal and acknowledging they represent far more than just property to their owners.

The proposal is one of a number of recommendations made in a report setting out the findings of work by the Government's pet theft taskforce, which was set up in response to a rise in such offences during the coronavirus pandemic and amid pressure from MPs across the Commons to impose tougher penalties.

It comes after a number of dog thefts and attempts across Watford, including one where the pet and owner received death threats.

Gerald McCarthy, 69, who lives in Croxley Green had his six-year-old Chihuahua, Molly stolen from a communal garden outside his flat.

He says the thieves threatened to slit Molly’s throat, and threatened to harm him, if he does not send over money – roughly around £1,000.

It is hoped the plans will help police crackdown on criminals, make it easier for officers to track such incidents and make it harder for thieves to steal and sell pets.

The report said: "There is growing public feeling that criminal law and the sentencing for offences involving the theft of pets do not sufficiently recognise an animal as something more than mere property."

RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood welcomed plans to acknowledge the "seriousness" of the crime and said: "We hope this will encourage courts to hand out much tougher sentences to pet thieves."

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Environment Secretary George Eustice said reports of a rise in pet thefts have been "worrying" and owners should not have to "live in fear", adding that the recommendations would "reassure" them.

Pet theft is not a specific crime and is currently considered as a loss of property to owners under the Theft Act 1968.