As many as one million people in Britain believe their pet cats or dogs have been stolen, according to
pet insurance provider Sainsbury's Finance.
The firm has released new statistics that suggest that in the event of loss or theft, the likelihood of being reunited with a pet is around 61 per cent.
Steve Johnson, head of pet insurance for Sainsbury's Finance, said: "It's difficult to know the full scale of dog and cat theft because it's impossible to know for sure if the cat or dog has been stolen, lost or suffered an accident."
Consulting the Missing Pets Bureau, the group notes that around 38 per cent of dogs reported as missing have actually been stolen - suggesting that pet theft is a "very real" possibility.
Reasons cited for stealing an animal include resale value, breeding and ransom, with English Springer Spaniels said to be the one of the breeds of dog most likely to be taken.
For cats, the most vulnerable breeds are Burmese, Persian and Siamese.
The Missing Pets Bureau holds a nationwide database for lost animals and works closely with 12,000 pet care organisations.
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