Pet Theft

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 2:59 pm on 15 September 2021.

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Photo of Sioned Williams Sioned Williams Plaid Cymru 2:59, 15 September 2021

Diolch, Weinidog. I also want to raise the issue of pet theft with the Minister, alongside Natasha Asghar, and especially dog theft, because we did see that sharp rise in the demand for pups during the pandemic, which has been linked to the recent rise in dog thefts, as, sadly, dogs have increasingly become a profitable target for thieves. In my region of South Wales West, 59 dogs were rescued in an operation across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot in April this year. A number of these dogs were believed to have been stolen, and this was in addition to six stolen dogs rescued by police in Briton Ferry in January. I welcome that which you said in your answer previously about co-operation with DEFRA, but can you tell worried owners in my region when we can expect action to be taken on this issue here in Wales? Can you provide a timetable, and how, specifically, is the Welsh Government working with police and other stakeholders, like RSPCA Cymru, to deal with this matter?