Millions of dog owners in England warned they 'must not let pet off lead' in May The number of owners who don't feel safe when taking their dog for a walk, especially older and lower-income owners, is rising. The number of owners who don't feel safe when taking their dog for a walk, especially older and lower-income owners, is rising. 6.2 million dog owners in the UK are too scared to let their dog off its lead in case it gets stolen - a whopping 41 per cent. The number of owners who don't feel safe when taking their dog for a walk, especially older and lower-income owners, is rising. The ONS survey revealed that older owners are especially unlikely to let their dogs off the lead, with almost half (46%) of over-54s saying this compared to 37% of under-35s, indicating that they feel particularly at risk. ‌ 45 per cent of these owners said they keep their dog on a leash to protect against theft, compared to 29% of those on a higher income. And three in 4 said they don’t leave their canine companion alone in public, like tied up outside a shop or in the car. ‌ READ MORE HMRC issues warning to 'wind down' use of scheme as it begins 'crackdown' Go.Compare says this still leaves an estimated 2.6 million cat owners worried about theft in the UK. Rhys Jones, pet insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “Pet owners shouldn’t feel more vulnerable to theft just because of their financial situation, so we’ve partnered with Animal Friends to offer a free Ring Indoor Camera for those who buy selected policies. "These can be really helpful for keeping an eye on your pets and, alongside other measures, reduce the risk of theft. Article continues below "Things like changing up your walking route and refraining from posting your pet on social media can stop you from becoming a target. "Thieves are also less likely to steal cats that are spayed or neutered, as it means they can’t make money from breeding them, so try to include this information on an ID tag if your cat has had this procedure. "Keeping your dog on a lead and accompanied in public will also help. Article continues below “If you’re unfortunate enough to have your pet stolen, report it to the police straight away. "Make a note of your crime reference number, as around 87% of pet insurance policies cover theft, and they might ask for this if you want to make a claim. “If your pet is microchipped, contact the microchip database to see if they can help. Finally, you can also inform your local council and spread the word on noticeboards at vets, parks and online to improve your chances of getting them back.”