| Good evening Those of us who are dog lovers will feel the pain behind our story today about the number of dog thefts across the county. Thefts have risen in the past year, perhaps because more people have decided to get a dog as they are spending more time at home because of the pandemic. We know that the rise in demand has also seen a rise in the price of even the smallest dogs, with costs of £1,000-plus quoted for most. And so, with a ready market, thieves have seen it as a golden opportunity. All of us who have a dog see them as a member of the family, but that is not the case in law. Currently, they are treated as a possession, rather like having your laptop or phone stolen. There is no account taken of the emotional attachment at all. A petition calling on the Government to make dog theft an offence has attracted more than 300,000 signatures, including 30,300 from people here in the North West, meaning it is well over the threshold to be considered for debate in parliament. That debate is one which is well overdue - as is a change in the law. Have a safe and enjoyable Bank Holiday weekend, Gillian Drop me a line at [email protected] with your views and please subscribe to support sustainable local journalism in your community. Click here to view our offers. Here are some of today's top stories ... | 