As a pet owner and animal lover, I am devastated on a daily basis to see posts reporting the  theft of much loved pets. This is not the loss of a tv, jewellery, a car - it is the loss of a much loved member of the family. Are they being looked after, loved? Or as we all fear, used as a brood mare, or for sport. It's inhuman. This crime should carry a hefty prison sentence, and bereft owners should never be asked the monetary value of their pet, you cannot put a value on your best friend, other than priceless. I think people who abuse animals are also a potential serious threat to people