Dog thefts rising, AKC reports
The American Kennel Club reports that dog thefts are on the rise.
In the first five months of 2008, the AKC has tracked dozens of pet thefts from news and customer reports, compared to only a handful for all of 2007. Thefts from pet stores, breeding operations, shelters, back yards and cars are all increasing, the AKC says.
To lessen the likelihood of your dog being a victim, it recommends not letting your dog wander off-leash, and not leaving your dog unattended in your yard. It also warns breeders to be aware of theives in the guise of potential puppy buyers.
From Yorkies in Los Angeles to bulldogs in Connecticut, dogs have been stolen by thieves posing as would be "puppy buyers" who visited breeder homes, then returned later to snatch dogs.
The possibility of theft is another good reason to never leave your dog unattended in a car, even if it's locked, the AKC says. It also recommends against leaving your dog tied up outside a store, a popular practice among urban dog owners. Reports have surfaced nationwide of dogs left in such a manner being snatched, particularly in Manhattan.
The AKC recommends microchipping your dog, and keeping your contact information up to date. If you suspect your dog has been stolen, immediately call the police, animal control and pet shelters in the area where your pet was last seen. Also, keep a photo of your dog in your wallet or on your computer, so that you can distribute and post it immediately if your pet goes missing.
Comments
I live a couple blocks from a shopping center so I've always killed 2 birds with 1 stone by walking my dog(s) over when I had 'light' shopping to do.
A few years ago, I walked my over-sized German Shepherd and my DoberMix to the Card Shoppe and tied them to the trash recepticle (it was fancied up!) in front while I went in. It probably took me half an hour to pick the perfect card and I exited the store just in time to see 2 women coaxing my dogs into a van full of kids! When I questioned their behavior, they claimed to have thought the dogs - both wearing licenses and rabies tags as well as their name & phone number tags - had been abandoned.
At the time, I thought these had to be the stupidest human beings on the face of the earth! Maybe not....maybe more sinister...but who would load strange, very large dogs into a van full of kids??
Posted by: Eve | July 8, 2008 11:10 AM
Orlando Summer League
What you need are more dog walkers in your neighborhood.
Dog walkers and dogs are the most reliable and inexpensive security resource in society. With their daily presence in our parks and on our nature trails, they are the eyes and ears of the community, frequently the first to discover crime and consistently a deterrent to it. We should be encouraging the presence of dog walkers and their dogs rather than implementing public policies that restrict and prohibit them.
A Tired Dog is a Happy Dog!!
Posted by: Orlando | July 9, 2008 12:18 AM