No one knows better than Home Secretary David Blunkett how much affection pet owners can have for their dogs.

Mr Blunkett, who is blind, recently had to change his guide dog because the old pet had grown too long in the tooth for her job.

So he, of all politicians, should be sympathetic to the plea from Libby Hubbard to tighten loopholes in the law about stolen dogs.

She wants a national register of missing dogs, stricter rules on puppy registration and tighter controls on dogs leaving Britain.

All dogs are valuable to their owners but some are worth hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds if they are rare breeds.

There is a well-organised and lucrative trade in stealing these animals and it causes enormous pain to pet owners.

Mr Blunkett should look closely at sensible suggestions to see if they can be put into force to stop this racket.