DOG THEFT- ON THE RISE

[Dare2Bme71]

Last Night my APBT was stolen out of my yard, I immediatly filed a police report-it is a felony in my state to steal a dog. I combed the neighborhood, called animal control and let people in the area know my dog was gone and a police report had been filed. She magically reappeared in my back yard about 30 mins ago. This prompted me to do a litlle research on the subject. What I found was amazing but not suprising.

The number of dog thefts are on the rise due to the sluggish economy. With the black market on Dogs breeds and the internet, as well as labs, paying cash for dogs, stealling dogs can be quite profitable for the undesirables in the world.

Here is a list of ways you can protect your dog and not have the heartbreak of loosing your best friend. I know I was lucky..I got my Girl Back and right now she is in the house with me.

 How to protect your dog

Don’t leave your dog alone in your yard for long periods, especially if it’s visible from the street.

If strangers approach you with admiring comments about your dog, don’t share information about his cost or where you live.

Report a theft to police and animal control as soon as it happens.

Keep a current photo of your pet so you can make flyers or posters immediately and post the photo on Web sites.

If possible, hold back some kind of descriptive information about your pet so you can sort out crank calls from serious ones.

Microchip your dogs and cats, and keep microchip registration information up to date so shelters and veterinarians can contact you if your pet is found. A microchip also serves as proof that an animal belongs to you.

A tattoo on the inner thigh is a permanent way of identifying your dog if the tattoo is registered with a tracking organization such as National Dog Registry.

Consider GPS for your pet. New GPS collars allow owners to set up a safety zone. If the pet strays beyond it, an alert goes out e-mail and text message. The collars have potential for tracking missing dogs, but they’re expensive at $129.99 and up, and they can be removed by someone who finds the dog and decides to keep it.

[FaeryDreamer]

Nov. 6, 2008 at 7:46 PM

Wow, I guess when it gets bad, people will steal just about anything.

 

[Crash13199]

Nov. 13, 2008 at 5:32 PM

OMG! I'm so glad you got her back, the poor sweet heart could have been sold to a fighter... that would have been horrible. but at least she's safe with her family again. What a shitty world. I don't leave my girl out as much because of my work hours now, but when I have her out I have to lock her kennel. People need to realize that they aren't just stealing a 'dog' but taking away a member of someones family. I'm also glad I had her chipped, and I know they don't do it as much anymore but I want to get her a tattooed Id... My first dog had one. Thanks for keeping us updated, and again, SO GLAD you got her home safe!

[taylor703]

Sep. 12, 2009 at 11:29 AM

That's crazy! I can't believe people steal dogs. Glad you got yours back. =)