A citywide awareness campaign on how to prevent dog thefts must be rolled out by the Galway City Council and gardaí.
This is the view of Fianna Fáil Galway City East councillor Alan Cheever, who said such a campaign is necessary given the rise in dog thefts across the State, during the pandemic.
During the Covid-19 crisis, many people have bought dogs as pets, prices of dogs have increased, and as a result, the value of the animals has risen also, giving rise to increased incidents of dog theft.
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“Dogs are like a member of the family, for some they are the only companionship many people have had over the pandemic,” said Cllr Cheevers. “It’s important people are aware of how best to protect their dogs from criminals.”
Cllr Cheevers said the campaign should be online, but also involve a leaflet available from the council, the gardaí, and district pounds, providing information on the best ways to prevent dog thefts. He added that the campaign should recognise that the price of dogs has risen significantly over the past year, and the importance of dogs as family pets.
