Dog-gone Low Economy Causes Rise in Dognapping - PawFun
Dog-gone Low Economy Causes Rise in Dognapping
Blame it on the economy, which makes the reward money for beloved family pets attractive to those down on their luck. Or blame it on careless owners whose dogs get stolen when tied up outside of stores, left in cars “just for a second,” or left in backyards alone.
Dognapping is on the rise, MSNBC reports. Toy breeds, puppies, and purebred dogs that look expensive or unusual are most vulnerable, says an American Kennel Club spokesperson. Among the most-stolen breeds tracked by the AKC in 2008 are Yorkshire terriers, poodles, Pomeranians, shih tzu, bulldogs, corgis, a Norwich terrier and a mastiff.
While some dogs are targeted for stealing, most dog thefts are crimes of opportunity. “The average guy doesn’t wake up in the morning and think about stealing a dog for a family member or himself, but the dog is there, there’s no one watching, and they take him,” says Lt. John Kerwick, president of the U.S. Police Canine Association, Region 7, New York, an organization of officers who work with police dogs.
How to Protect Your Dog From Theft
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.
Get your dog a Together Tag. Developed by Dogster and the American Red Cross, Together Tag will allows you to make a Lost Dog poster immediately from any computer if your dog is missing, because current photos and contact information will already be online.
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.