22% of pet plan holders 'suspect theft of their missing animal'

Research has shown that 22 per cent of dog and cat owners whose pets go missing believe that they were stolen.

Direct pet insurance holders might be interested to note that almost a quarter of people who have had their animal friend go missing in recent years believe that it was stolen.

According to research conducted by Sainsbury's, some 22 per cent of all dog and cat owners - who may have been protected by an annual insurance or pet plan product - felt that their animal was take unlawfully.

With there being around 2.88 million feline and canine owners in the UK, this equates to 128,000 instances of theft per year. Therefore, Sainsbury's is advising animal lovers up and down the country to ensure that their beloved pet is protected against such a crime.

Lucy Hunter, pet insurance manager for the supermarket bank, commented that losing an animal companion can be a "devastating experience".

Meanwhile, an article published recently by the Daily Telegraph reported that vets bills are rising by 12 per cent annually, which could make taking out pet insurance even more important for animal owners.

By Joe Letts