Stolen Sussex pets are "used for food and fighting" (From The Argus)

Stolen Sussex pets are "used for food and fighting"

10:20pm Sunday 5th July 2009

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Sussex pets are being stolen for food and fighting.

The claim, made by animal charities, comes as police revealed scores of household pets and farm animals have been taken in the last 18 months.

There were 97 reported animal thefts in the county in all of 2008 - but 60 already so far this year.

Dogs including Staffordshire bull terriers have all been targeted as potential "fighters" or to be used for status or intimidation.

Other animals are sold on for profit and owners of livestock, which police say are increasingly are being kept as pets, believe others are being taken and butchered for food.

According to Sussex Police figures obtained by The Argus under the Freedom of Information Act dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, tortoises and goldfish were among the household animals taken in the last 18 months.

Farmyard animals taken include horses, Shetland ponies, pheasants, chickens, ducks, geese, sheep, lambs and goats.

One description of stolen property stolen in West Sussex simply read “lots of bees”.

Ferrets and a pole cat were among the less usual creatures taken - while police managed to solve one case of fraud where a tarantula was taken.

Breeds of dog such as Staffordshire bull terriers, rottweilers, dobermans and ridgebacks are known to be targeted.

They are thought to be used to attack or intimidate people during crimes, or for fighting other dogs.

Smaller dogs are said to be taken as ‘bait’ to teach fighting dogs to kill.

Stolen Staffordshire bull terriers are also thought to be used to cross with pit bulls to breed an aggressive strain of ‘Irish Staffords’.

Joanna Mason, of Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue, who told The Argus she had seen a “constant stream” of animals said: “They are taken for breeding, fighting, or bait.

“They steal the dogs and use them as weapons.

“Or they sell them in pubs. Even with no pedigree they can get £300 or £400.

“Any dogs that don’t fight, they throw them out on the street.

“I beg owners to have them microchipped.”

Neither police nor charities spoken to by The Argus said they thought the problem of animal thefts is necessarily getting worse despite the year-on-year rise.

RSPCA spokeswoman Klare Kennett said: “It is difficult to know why people would be stealing more animals.

“If they really want one they can come to us and rehome animals from one of our centres.

“It is very upsetting for the owners to lose a much-loved family pet.”

PC Peter Child, who runs Sussex Police’s rural neighbourhood watch scheme Farmline in the Arun district, said more and more people are keeping livestock as pets.

In March two sheep were found hacked to pieces in a field in Ford, near Arundel.

The police and the sheep’s owner told The Argus that they believed the attackers had tried to butcher the animals for food.

PC Child said that the motive for animal thefts varies from crime to crime and said that the idea of animals being used for fights or meat were theories.

He said people keeping animals as pets have a better chance of getting them back if they microchip them in the same way as a dog or a cat.

He said: “When they are kept in fields, even if the gate is locked they are vulnerable.

“Our advice is, if you have a stable block, lock them up at night.

“Consider microchipping - if it is a pet you don’t want to lose at least it is a way of identifying the animal.”

Anyone who wishes to report a crime or pass on information about thefts of animals can contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.

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