I live in Beeliar with my loved cavoodle, Albus. I've become increasingly concerned with the occurrences of dog stealing throughout Perth including a recent incident in Harrisdale, not far from our community in Cockburn.

Dog stealing is currently legislated under the same laws as theft of any other property item, like a TV, and has no separate penalties. It’s clear that stealing a family dog is crueller than stealing an inanimate object but this is not reflected in current legislation.

I'm fighting for WA to join South Australia, who recently introduced a specific dog theft offence with penalties of $50,000 or two years imprisonment.