A CONVICTED drug dealer is suspected to be behind the large volume of dognappings seen across Ireland in recent months.
The drug dealer, who is based in the midlands and is also known to the Criminal Assets Bureau, began stealing pets in March and is suspected of recruiting a number of men to identify high-value breeds and carry out thefts on his behalf.
As reported by The Journal, Gardaí suspect the dealer began stealing animals and then hired others, including vulnerable drug addicts, to steal on his behalf, as the demand for pet dogs during the lockdown saw the prices of the animals skyrocket.
Families across Ireland were left heartbroken in 2020 as a spate of dognappings led to beloved pets being stolen from houses and gardens across the country, often never to be seen again.
Department of Justice figures seen by The Journal indicates there were 130 incidences of dognappings in Ireland in 2020, but just 40 of those thefts were logged in the Garda Pulse system, allegedly due to owners failing to log an official report to Gardaí.
A large number of stolen dogs have been identified and seized by Gardaí in recent monthsDSPCA spokeswoman Gillian Bird told the outlet the charity is continuing to urge people to 'adopt, don't shop', as it is the demand for the animals that is causing their value to increase.
However an upside to the lockdown is a reduction in people wishing to give up their pets, Ms Bird added, saying "this would usually be our busiest time for surrendering animals but it's not happening at all as often," due to people being at home more often and being able to spend time training their animals.
Gardaí have made several high-profile seizures of suspected stolen dogs in recent months, including at Dublin Port where dogs were to be sent to the UK, and from stopping 'suspicious' vehicles were dogs were discovered hidden in the boot.
Gardaí and animal charities are continuing to urge pet owners to have their animals microchipped, so if they are stolen it will be possible to trace them.
