Further highlighted by the recent dognapping of pop star Lady Gaga’s two French bulldogs and the subsequent shooting of her dog walker in Los Angeles, dog thefts have seen a rise globally due to the high demand for puppies during lockdown and the vast increase in prices as a result. With most retail stores closed and everybody spending more time at home, criminals have turned their attention to target our four-legged family friend for their illicit gains on the quiet streets and often remote outdoor dog walking areas. There are several reasons dogs are stolen - for resale or ransom, puppy farms, illegal dogfighting, and even human consumption.
To combat this trend, in a world-first, DoggyGuards™ is providing its clients SIA licensed close protection for their canines.
John Moore, managing director of London-based Westminster Security and DoggyGuards™, explained: “As a nation of dog lovers, losing your best friend to theft would cause untold emotional distress and trauma to owners and families. Sadly, current sentencing does very little to deter thieves and does not take into account how devastating it can be to have your dog stolen from you.
“Westminster Security can provide you with the peace of mind that your dog is being safely exercised and returned with our DoggyGuard™ service. Our SIA licensed, NASDU qualified professional dog handler will collect your dog or dogs and safely walk them for you, or they can shadow you walking your dogs to make sure that you are both safe from harm. Basically, we provide a bodyguard for your dog.
“It is often frowned upon in the close protection sector and dismissed as “not our job!”, but this is a service that we provide as standard for our longstanding and loyal close protection clients, for added service value and support. Due to the current increased threat of dognapping and physical attack to high-value dog owners, for the first time we are now offering this as a standalone service.”