EMOTIONAL TURMOIL OF A STOLEN PET IS LIKE LOSING A CHILD, STUDY FINDS
- In a new study, researchers interviewed owners whose dog had been stolen
- Most likened the emotional turmoil to that experienced when losing a child
Anyone who owns a dog will be familiar with the unbreakable bond you share with your pet.
Now, research has confirmed they really do feel like part of the family - as a study shows the emotional turmoil of having a dog stolen is similar to losing a child.
Researchers interviewed owners whose dog had been stolen, and asked them to describe their experiences and needs.
Most participants likened the emotional turmoil caused by the event to that experienced when losing a child or other family member.
This included feelings of sadness, sorrow, despair, hopelessness and numbness coupled with anxiety.
Some even said they felt the loss was more intense than the death of a friend or relative owing to the close bond they had with their pet.
The findings support the notion that dogs really are part of the family, the team said.
Further analysis also revealed the situation could be made worse by the manner in which the dog was stolen – either through physical force or by entering someone's home without consent.
Akaanksha Venkatramanan, from Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'This study explored the experiences and needs of dog guardians when faced with dog theft and the results validated an overlap of characteristics between human and non-human relationships.
'It provides evidence of the intense love of dogs and the parental accountability of guardians.'
In the UK alone there are 13 million dog owners, and having a pet has been found to improve mental and physical health.
They also provide companionship and are a source of comfort to many, particularly for those who without them, would experience significant loneliness.
The researchers highlight how having a dog buffered against the negative impact of loneliness experienced during the COVID-19 lockdowns in the UK as dogs give people a reason to leave the house for walks, exercise and spend time in nature.
Sadly, the upshot of many more people raising dogs in this time resulted in a spike in breeding, a rise in the cost of puppies for sale and theft during the pandemic.
While 3.2 million pets were bought during lockdown, there were also over 2,000 reports of dogs stolen – a rise in dog theft by 250 per cent pre-Covid.
Currently, dog theft laws only consider cogs as stolen property in the same was as having a material possession such as a bike stolen.
Some participants said the psychological distress they experienced was made worse by a lack of understanding of how much an animal companion can mean to someone.
The team said they hope their findings could lead to more support being provided for those who have had their dogs stolen.
Dr Lindsey Roberts, a human-animal bond expert and senior lecturer at the University of the West of England, said: 'This research was launched when my friends' dog, Lola, was stolen from under her nose in her back garden by someone we presume was posing as a delivery driver.
'The distress rocked everyone, and I felt more had to be done to support those who were having their dogs stolen.
'We interviewed people who had experienced theft, and we have since developed a questionnaire that aims to highlight the areas people need most support in coping with the theft of their dogs to help alleviate suffering.'
The findings were published in the journal Human-Animal Interactions.
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