Dog Thefts Remain on the Rise

Posted in News on December 14, 2009 | leave a comment

The American Kennel Club continues to remind pet owners to heed warnings about an alarming rise in pet thefts. State houses across America have taken notice and are proposing laws to toughen penalties for those who steal pets.
Through November 30th, the AKC has tracked more than 115 missing pets via incidents reported by news media and customer reports. In 2008, the AKC tracked a total of 71 thefts.
The FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC), which tracks stolen property nationwide, currently lists 200 stolen dogs. In response to this continuing trend, AKC offers the following advice to stop your “best friend” from being the target of a crime.

PREVENTION:
- Don’t let your dog off-leash or unattended in your yard. Keeping your dog close to you reduces the likelihood it will wander off and catch the attention of thieves. Dogs left outdoors for long periods of time are targets, especially if your fenced-in yard is visible from the street.
- 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.
- Don’t tie your dog outside a store. If you need to go shopping, patronize only dog-friendly retailers or leave the dog at home.

RECOVERY:
- Protect your dog with microchip identification. Collars and tags can be removed so make sure you have permanent ID with a microchip.
- If you suspect your dog has been stolen. Immediately call the police / animal control officer in the area your pet was last seen and file a police report. If your dog has a microchip, ask to have that unique serial number, along with the dog’s description, posted in the “stolen article” category on the National Crime Information Center.
- Canvass the neighborhood. Talk to people in the immediate vicinity where your pet went missing for possible sightings of the actual theft.
DON’T BUY STOLEN PETS:
- Don’t buy dogs from the internet, flea markets, or roadside vans. There is simply no way to verify where an animal purchased from any of these outlets came from.
- Seek out reputable breeders or rescue groups. Visit the home of the breeder, meet the puppy’s mother, and see the litter of puppies. Contacting breed rescue groups can also be a safe alternative if you are looking for an adult dog.
- Demand proper papers on your purebred puppy. Ask for the AKC Litter Registration Number and contact AKC customer service at 919-233-9767 to verify registration authenticity of your purebred puppy.
Additional tips can be found on the American Kennel Club Web site at akc.org.

Courtesy: American Kennel Club

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