02/10/2025
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š¾Today the Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill passed Stage 1 in Parliament š¾
For too long, stolen dogs have been treated as āpropertyā, the same as a stolen phone or bike. This Bill recognises them for what they are: sentient beings, much loved family members, and companions.
If passed, the Bill will:
š¾ Make dog theft a specific criminal offence
š¾ Penalties up to 5 years in prison/unlimited fines
š¾ Allow victims to give impact statements in court
š¾ Introduce tougher penalties for the theft of assistance dogs
š¾ Require the Scottish Government to collect and publish data
This is a major milestone towards protecting dogs, supporting owners, and cracking down on organised crime. We encourage you to show your support for Scotlandās dogs by writing to your MSP and urge them to back the Dog Theft Bill as it progresses through Parliament.