A family whose pet was stolen as part of a dog-napping racket has called on Home Secretary David Blunkett to tighten loopholes in the law.

Libby Hubbard highlighted the sinister trade after her son Bertie's beloved Labrador Zulu disappeared without trace.

In December last year, we reported how Mrs Hubbard's investigations uncovered a trail of stolen pets and distraught owners leading as far away as war-torn Angola.

Now she and a group of supporters have written to Mr Blunkett asking for his help to protect pets.

Mrs Hubbard, who lives on a farm near Ashdown Forest, told the Home Secretary: "There is an enormous organised crime of what one can only imagine is stolen-to-order dogs for resale and possibly for export."

She has asked Mr Blunkett to consider a national register for dogs lost for more than 24 hours, stricter rules about registering puppies and tighter controls on dogs leaving ports or airfields. Mrs Hubbard said a registration fee, proof of ownership and details of return journey could be applied to travelling dogs.

Bertie, 13, and his black labrador had been inseparable.

Mrs Hubbard told Mr Blunkett: "His loss is enormous and permanent. I have been able to put a lot of effort into looking for Zulu as yet to no avail. But another example is a lady of 80-plus whose husband recently died and whose border terrier was taken. She is so devastated she can hardly leave the house."

Mrs Hubbard's investigations into dog-napping found 250 dogs a month were being stolen to order in Britain, a quarter in and around Sussex and Kent.

Prime targets were small terrier-type dogs or young trained, working dogs such as Labradors, springers and cocker spaniels.

Mrs Hubbard said: "Currently the police will give you a reference number but not a crime number as there has been no apparent break-in. This leaves the 'victim' in the unfortunate position of being the only person looking for his or her dog."