A dog may be stolen for a variety of reasons. It could be by somebody who’s simply taken a fancy to the animal and wants a pet of their own, or perhaps by an estranged partner who views the pet as their own. More ominous are thefts-to-order from puppy mill operators seeking fresh breeding stock, or underground dog fights on the lookout for likely breeds as well as live animals to be used in “training.”
Although there are no hard facts to point to, organizations such as the U.K.’s Dog Trust and the U.S.A.’s Last Chance for Animals estimate that stolen dogs in their respective countries total from the thousands to the tens of thousands.
In Canada, “Dogs are stolen all the time,” according to Jennifer Montague, a spokesperson for the Western Quebec SPCA, though she can’t give an approximation of how widespread the problem is. Unspayed females and unneutered males, especially purebreds, often comprise thefts destined for puppy mill purgatory. With prices for purebred puppies running $600 and up, dog farming can prove a lucrative, if filthy, business.
When and if you do get your friend back, here are steps you can take to thwart dog theft:
No dog, unless it’s by your side day and night, is ever 100-per-cent secure. But you can minimize its risk of being stolen.
HOW TO THWART DOG THEFT:
Purebred dogs are valuable commodities, especially to puppy mills. Spaying or neutering your pet is your best defense against unlawful breeders. If you own a female, consider attaching a boldly lettered tag reading “spayed” to her collar. If your dog is micro chipped, add the security company’s tag as well.
Micro chipping and tattooing (on the inner thigh, since ears can be cut off) are vital to the retrieval of your pet. These will also, under the law, prevent your pet from ending up in a research facility.
Keep your dog collared, even around the house or backyard. A collar and tags will aid in tracing and identifying your pet, whether it playfully escapes or is physically removed.
Never leave your dog tied up outside a store.
Avoid leaving your dog in your car, especially if the vehicle is left unlocked. Never do so on a hot day anyway.
Beware of strangers who appear overly interested in your pet.
When allowing your dog to play off-leash in a park, keep your eye on him at all times.
Make sure your backyard has a high fence and consider adding a warning device, such as a cowbell to its gate. Avoid leaving your dog alone in the yard for any length of time.
Never leave your dog outside on a tethered leash.
In case of emergency, always keep an identification kit on hand. This should feature a verbal description of your dog, plus notations on distinguishing marks and characteristics, type of collar and tags as well as microchip and tattoo numbers. Include as well several up-to-date photos showing your pet from all angles.
Consider buying pet insurance from a company that also covers the cost of locating a missing animal. Margaret Koshinsky of Winnipeg’s Petsecure (formerly Pet Plan) Insurance says that regardless the level of plan, her company offers up to $1,000, with no preliminary deductible, for advertising and reward expenses.
What to do if your dog is stolen
If you are sure someone has taken your pet, contact the police right away. Insist that they take a stolen-property report and treat your concerns seriously.
Notify all shelters and animal control offices within a 50- to 100-mile radius. If you can, visit the shelters personally, and often. Sometimes dogs can be overlooked by overworked staff, or physical descriptions don’t match up.
Contact all breeders in the same area, as well as the provincial and national breed clubs.
Blanket your immediate area with flyers, putting them up on phone poles, in grocery and other retail stores, near schools, police and fire stations, as well as in core places such as veterinary offices, shelters, pet stores and grooming shops. Hand out as many flyers as you can to postal employees, garbage workers, couriers – basically anyone who works a beat. Give them to your friends and fellow dog owners, especially those who have the same breed, as their eye is specially attuned to its appearance.
Advertise in every paper and on ev-ery lost-dog web site you can. Call or write to your local paper, advising them of the theft and asking them to warn others in the neighborhood. Do the same thing with local TV and radio stations.
Be aware of scammers, who may contact you and offer to return your dog if you send them the money to do so, or who request a reward up front, before returning your dog. Better yet, report them to the police.
