Who Moved My Bone?

Americans spend over $40 billion per year on their pets. One of the consequences of this is criminals are catching on to the financial and emotional value that people place on their dogs. So every year more and more dogs are being stolen usually to be resold for a quick dollar. There have even been cases where thieves hold dogs for ransom to extort large sums of money from their owners.

Here are some tips to that can keep your 4-legged friend safe:

• Don’t leave your dog unattended in your yard. Dogs left outdoors for long periods are targets, especially if your fenced-in yard is visible from the street.

• Be cautious with information. If strangers approach to admire your dog during walks, don’t answer questions about how much the dog cost or give details about where you live.

• Never leave your dog in an unattended car, even if it’s locked. Besides the obvious health risks this poses to the dog, it’s also an invitation for thieves, even if you are gone for only a moment. Leaving expensive items in the car such as a GPS unit or laptop will only encourage break-ins and possibly allow the dog to escape, even if the thieves don’t decide to steal the pet, too.

• Don’t tie your dog outside a store. This popular practice among city-dwelling dog owners can be a recipe for disaster. If you need to go shopping, patronize only dog-friendly retailers or leave the dog at home.

In the worst happens and your dog goes missing for whatever reason here are some tips to that can help with the recovery of your 4-legged friend:

• Protect your dog with microchip identification. If you move, remember to update the contact information with your microchip recovery service provider.

• If you suspect your dog has been stolen, call the police/animal control officer in the area your pet was last seen. File a police report. If your dog has a microchip, ask to have that unique serial number and the dog’s description posted in the “stolen article” list on the National Crime Information Center.

• Have fliers with a recent photo ready to go if your dog goes missing. Keep several current photos (profile and headshot) of your dog in your wallet or on an easily accessible web account so you can distribute immediately if your pet goes missing.

The majority of the time, thieves steal pets to resell them for some quick cash. Here are some tips to follow to help ensure you do not end up with a stolen dog thereby supporting the dog-nappers:

• Don’t buy dogs from flea markets or roadside vans. There is simply no way to verify where an animal purchased from any of these outlets came from. Websites and online classifieds are easily falsified, and with roadside or flea market purchases not only do you not know the pet’s origins, you will never be able to find or identify the seller in case of a problem.

Where I live, a suburb of Houston, there are people out every weekend in the Target parking lot selling puppies. A few years ago you when we moved out to the burbs it was rare to see somebody selling puppies in the Target parkig lot but now there are several people out there every weekend. It’s a disturbing trend to say the least. Not that I think they are selling stolen puppies but typically the kind of person who sells dogs in a parking lot is only interested in the money not the well-being of the puppies or the breed.

• Even newspaper ads may be suspect. Adult dogs offered for sale at reduced prices, for a “relocation” fee, or accompanied by requests for last-minute shipping fees are red flags. Dog owners who truly love their animals and are unable to keep them will find a loving home without compensation for re-homing the animal.

• Seek out reputable breeders or rescue groups. Visit the home of the breeder, meet the puppy’s mother and see the litter of puppies. Developing a good relationship with the breeder will bring you peace of mind when purchasing. Contacting rescue groups can also be a safe alternative.

Tips from Lisa Peterson at USA Today

Tags:   dog-nappers · dogs2 Comments