An online petition calling for stronger penalties against dog theft in Scotland has already been signed by 138,000 people.
Michelle Boyd started her campaign after growing alarmed that someone might target the puppy she got seven months ago.
Michelle, from Balloch in Dunbartonshire, said: “Penalties for dog thefts are completely inadequate.
“If someone steals your dog it’s treated the same as if they steal your mobile phone and the most common penalty is usually a £250 fine.
“The petition is to get sentencing for people that steal dogs to be much more appropriate and for the crime of dog theft to be a specific crime.
“One of the few things you could do during the pandemic is walk your dog and you didn’t even feel comfortable because you were scared somebody was going to leap out of a van and steal them.”
Michelle admitted she waited until she could go out with her husband before walking her dog.
She said several people had been in touch with stories of dogs being targeted and others who have taken matters into their own hands.
She said: “One lady I bumped into in the park was walking her dog carrying a cooking blowtorch. When a dog is stolen it should go on to a national register.”
Find the petition here.
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