Canton, Georgia – There has recently been an alarming increase in the level of dog theft. Some organizations have stipulated that dog theft has increased by as much as 32%”, stated Bruce Edwards, Home Dog Training Behavioral Therapist & Master Trainer.
There are many reasons people steal pets:
- Many people just don’t want to pay the price charged by the breeder or pet store.
- Others are looking for dogs and other animals that can be easily sold. Dogs can often bring as much as $3,000 or $4,000 on the “open market”.
- Some people steal dogs and then wait for the reward posters to pop up around the neighborhood. It is truly amazing how often that lost dog on the poster just happens to wander into a stranger’s back yard with no tags or other form of identification.
- Dogs are stolen to be used as “bait dogs” for dog fighting clubs. This is probably the most horrible, disturbing and distressing of all the reasons your dog is stolen.
- Having a dog stolen is terrible for both the owner and the dog. A once well behaved dog, if found, can turn into a fearful or an aggressive animal. They can become assertive around people or other animals. It is possible that they could attack with no warning. Or, they may just sit, shaking with fear, in the corner of the room. Your once wonderful dog may be returned to you with a level of anxiety and fear that may never be removed.
So what can you do try try and minimize or eliminate the possibility of your dog being stolen?
- It is very important that you have your dog is micro chipped and that he is always wearing his collar and dog tag. You also might consider attaching a GPS locator on his collar.
- Never leave your dog alone or away from you in a public place.
- Do not leave your dog alone for a long time of time in the back yard or front yard.
- Watch out for any strangers who seem a little to inquisitive about your dog. If they are asking too many questions regarding your dog’s breed, age, lineage, health, temperament; they might “be shopping”.
- Make sure that you have done a background check and validated the references of your dog walker. Are they bonded? What are their references? Does your vet know anything about them?
If your dog has been is missing or you think he has been stolen:
- It is critical that you contact the police or the appropriate local animal control authorities as soon as possible.
- Print up flyers with your dog’s picture and put them all over the neighborhood. Place flyers in vet hospitals, dog grooming stores, pet stores, supermarkets, etc.
- Get in touch with the local radio and TV stations to see if they have places on their web sites to post your dog’s information.
- Visit the local dog shelters on a regular basis to see if anyone has turned your dog in. See if you can give them information to be on the lookout for your missing dog.
- Use social media to post your dog’s information.
- Check Internet Databases such as www.FidoFinder.com to register your dog and to see if anyone has listed him as found.
“Having anything stolen from us, especially our family dog, is always a very bad experience. Unfortunately, getting your dog returned is very difficult and often impossible.”, stated Edwards. The best solution is to proactively take the important steps we have outlined above. Keeping your dog safe and secure provides for their high level of quality of life and is just the right thing to do.
Canton, Georgia – There has recently been an alarming increase in the level of dog theft. Some organizations have stipulated that dog theft has increased by as much as 32%”, stated Bruce Edwards, Home Dog Training Behavioral Therapist & Master Trainer.
There are many reasons people steal pets:
- Many people just don’t want to pay the price charged by the breeder or pet store.
- Others are looking for dogs and other animals that can be easily sold. Dogs can often bring as much as $3,000 or $4,000 on the “open market”.
- Some people steal dogs and then wait for the reward posters to pop up around the neighborhood. It is truly amazing how often that lost dog on the poster just happens to wander into a stranger’s back yard with no tags or other form of identification.
- Dogs are stolen to be used as “bait dogs” for dog fighting clubs. This is probably the most horrible, disturbing and distressing of all the reasons your dog is stolen.
- Having a dog stolen is terrible for both the owner and the dog. A once well behaved dog, if found, can turn into a fearful or an aggressive animal. They can become assertive around people or other animals. It is possible that they could attack with no warning. Or, they may just sit, shaking with fear, in the corner of the room. Your once wonderful dog may be returned to you with a level of anxiety and fear that may never be removed.
So what can you do try try and minimize or eliminate the possibility of your dog being stolen?
- It is very important that you have your dog is micro chipped and that he is always wearing his collar and dog tag. You also might consider attaching a GPS locator on his collar.
- Never leave your dog alone or away from you in a public place.
- Do not leave your dog alone for a long time of time in the back yard or front yard.
- Watch out for any strangers who seem a little to inquisitive about your dog. If they are asking too many questions regarding your dog’s breed, age, lineage, health, temperament; they might “be shopping”.
- Make sure that you have done a background check and validated the references of your dog walker. Are they bonded? What are their references? Does your vet know anything about them?
If your dog has been is missing or you think he has been stolen:
- It is critical that you contact the police or the appropriate local animal control authorities as soon as possible.
- Print up flyers with your dog’s picture and put them all over the neighborhood. Place flyers in vet hospitals, dog grooming stores, pet stores, supermarkets, etc.
- Get in touch with the local radio and TV stations to see if they have places on their web sites to post your dog’s information.
- Visit the local dog shelters on a regular basis to see if anyone has turned your dog in. See if you can give them information to be on the lookout for your missing dog.
- Use social media to post your dog’s information.
- Check Internet Databases such as www.FidoFinder.com to register your dog and to see if anyone has listed him as found.
“Having anything stolen from us, especially our family dog, is always a very bad experience. Unfortunately, getting your dog returned is very difficult and often impossible.”, stated Edwards. The best solution is to proactively take the important steps we have outlined above. Keeping your dog safe and secure provides for their high level of quality of life and is just the right thing to do.
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