Yorkshire Terriers have become very popular items for thieves due to their value
The Yorkshire terrier trend has not only caught on with celebrities like Tara Reid, Britney Spears and Carmen Electra. It seems that the public's infatuation with these little dogs has created a demand that thieves can no longer ignore. Thieves and robbers across the country are passing on the usual loot of electronics, jewelry and other valuables, and snatching yappy Yorkies instead.
Due to the skyrocketing popularity of these miniature dogs, people are ready to pay anywhere between $600 and $2500 for a well-bred pup, making them a hot commodity on the "black" market.
Sergeant Thad Pickard, of the Hutchinson Police Department in Kansas, said he's worked at least two theft cases involving Yorkies in the past several months - and he's aware of one other case in Hutchinson where the dog was found dead.
In one case, the would-be thief fled before being able to capture the animals. The other case had a happy ending, as the dog was returned safely home, thanks to the ability of it's owner to recognize the value of microchipping.
The thefts appear to be catching on nationwide. February's newspapers included pleas for help from families in Queens, New York, as well as Reno and Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Last Friday, a video was released to the public showing armed gunmen tossing Yorkies into a black plastic garbage bag at an apartment in Los Angeles. On Saturday night, four of the five missing dogs were safely returned to their owners after a man turned himself in for the crime.
"I don't know what's driving it," Pickard said. "They're a nice dog to have, they're small and they're easy to care for and they're an expensive breed."
Connie Marcotte of Hutchinson, growing tired of the ruckus caused by her dogs outside, opened the back door to quiet them, only to see a would-be thief attempting to coax her Yorkies out of the yard.
A teenage girl squatted near the gate, attempting to lure Bubba and Rocky out of the yard.
"I was furious - I was beside myself," Marcotte said. "I called my husband and told him to come home. ... they're our babies - both our children are grown and gone."
When Marcotte came out of the house and approached her, the girl fled.
If there was any doubt as to the intentions of the teen, they were quickly erased when Marcotte discovered the purse-like dog carrier, leash and blanket the girl had left behind.
A few months later, Shad Flint arrived home and was surprised when his Yorkie, Megan, didn't bound to the door to greet him.
Flint filed a report with Pickard, and told the officer the dog had been "chipped", whereby a tiny microchip containing a serial code is implanted under the dog's skin. The microchip, coupled with a neighbor's detailed description of the suspect, was crucial in the dog's recovery.
"Another $30 investment and a good neighbor stepping up and the odds of getting your dog back triples," Flint said.
With a suspect in mind, Pickard approached area veterinarian Randall Smith, with Apple Lane Animal Hospital, about the electronic recovery devices.
"I don't think we would've gotten the dog back without the chip," Pickard said.
Marcotte has since had microchips implanted in both her dogs.
"Hopefully, if something ever does happen it will help me find them," she said.
Marcotte added that despite the new additions, she doesn't feel comfortable leaving her dogs alone anymore. With all the news accounts of thefts, and her personal experience with a potential dognapper, she worries about letting them out in the back yard, and she's still a little angry.
"I just can't believe someone would go around taking other people's pets," Marcotte said. "If you want a dog, go to the pound."
Protect your pet:
One stolen Yorkie was recovered with the help of a microchip that positively identified the dog.
Microchip installation costs $35 to $50, and involves implanting a device about as small as a grain of rice under the skin, usually between the shoulders.
Recorded by serial number, the chip's database then contains information about breeder, proper owner and street address etc.
A handheld scanner is used to record the serial number, which allows police and Humane Society workers to track down the animal's owner.
Smith said many people mistakenly believe that the microchip is a Global Positioning Satellite system that helps them track the whereabouts of their animals. The truth is, he added, the chip, without a scanner, is useless.
http://www.dogflu.ca/03052007/09/gua...nst_dognapping