UK government ministers are looking at ways of quashing the "black market" for pet trading as MPs voiced concerns that some dog owners are too anxious to leave their homes over dognapping fears.
Figures show that reports of dogs being stolen rose across England and Wales last year have increased by 11% in the past year, with at least 1,791 offences recorded amid a spike in demand for pets during the coronavirus lockdowns.
The government has responded by establishing a new pet theft taskforce to investigate the rise in offences across the UK, with the review due to be published in the summer.
A host of Tory MPs attended justice questions in the House of Commons on Tuesday to raise concerns over dognapping.
Backbencher Jane Stevenson (Wolverhampton North East) said: "In the recent local election campaign in Wolverhampton, I spoke to several constituents who are now too nervous to go out and walk their dogs, especially in the evening time.
"Does he recognise that for their wellbeing and for that of their dogs, this is an urgent matter and can he reassure me that as soon as the taskforce reports, the government will take action on pet theft reform?"
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland replied: "I'm very grateful to her for her deep commitment to this issue and she is so right to highlight the wellbeing and mental health effect of the loss of a much-loved pet to her residents in Wolverhampton and more widely.
"That's precisely why we took action to set up the taskforce and we will indeed be reporting as soon as possible to address the concerns of her constituents."
The cabinet minister said the government was looking at tackling the "black market" in a bid to reduce pet associated crime after Bolsover MP Mark Fletcher said he had met a number of constituents who had experienced the "heart-break" of pet theft.
Mr Buckland, who declared his interest as a cat owner during the session, said: "We are looking not just at the consequences of pet theft but ways in which the black market, frankly, in the trade of animals can be dealt with.
"And there are lots of ideas and initiatives that I think merit very serious consideration about how we can prevent the incentives for this sort of despicable crime to occur in the first place.
"Indeed, that is the work that is being carried out now."
Fellow Tories Matt Vickers (Stockton South) – who joked that it would be a "close call" for his mother to choose between her son and her "slightly obese Bichon Frise, Archie" – Alexander Stafford (Rother Valley), John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) and Jonathan Gullis (Stoke-on-Trent North) were among those to speak out on the topic.
The new pet theft taskforce is comprised of government officials, campaign groups and police. Its aim is to investigate and offer recommendations to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to tackle the problem.
