Kate Middleton and Prince William’s love of dogs is being linked to a surge in puppy farming.
The Royal couple have been photographed regularly with their black cocker spaniel, Lupo.
Missing pets experts believe this has led to a rise in lookalike dogs being stolen and sold to people wanting one because of the Royal connection.
They also fear some are being stolen and put into barns to be used for breeding in puppy production lines.
Each pet can be sold for hundreds of pounds.
On Tuesday, January 29, black cocker spaniel Kizzy was stolen from her kennel in East Sussex.
Simon Barnes, 45, whose elderly parents were targeted, said: “It would make sense to me that she was stolen because she looks like Kate’s dog.
“People just think, ‘She’s got one, I want one too’.”
Since the Duchess of Cambridge revealed a cocker spaniel as her pet of choice, interest in the breed has surged by 50 per cent, according to reports.
Some animal welfare groups, including the Kennel Club, have raised concerns people may take on a working dog not knowing they need lots of activity, and dump them.
Pet detective Colin Butcher said: “Currently there’s a massive demand for black cocker spaniels, primarily because William and Kate have acquired one.”
Prime target
Police believe working dogs have become a prime target for criminals in recent months as officers have worked to tackle scrap metal thefts by cracking down on dealers.
In one case Mr Butcher investigated the theft of a springer spaniel that was stolen from Brighton and turned up in Cranleigh, Surrey.
He said: “The dog was advertised on Gumtree but was taken into the vets, who scanned him and when they found he had a microchip the guy took off leaving the dog behind.
“He had a sob story for potential buyers – he had a new baby and it was sad giving up the dog because he had had it for years.”
15 stolen
Just 15 dogs were recorded as stolen by Sussex Police in the last six months of 2012.
Jane Hayes, who set up lost-and-found website Dog Lost, said the number was just the tip of the iceberg.
She said: “There are two types of dog thieves.
“In rural Sussex there are people who go around stealing working dogs such as lurchers, terriers and spaniels that can fetch a couple of thousand pounds.
“The others are opportunists who will sell it on around the corner for £30, maybe to pay for a drug habit.
Has your dog been stolen? Contact Kimberly Middleton on 01273 544511 or email kimberly.middleton@theargus.co.uk.
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