PROTECT YOUR PET FROM PET THEFT ​

Valentine's Day is also Pet Theft Awareness Day! ​In only a few seconds accomplished thieves can walk away with your dog. Your dog cannot call out for help.  The most common victim of these thefts are purebred companions or toy dogs.

They steal the dogs from backyards, front yards, walking down the street, dogs tied out of a store or restaurant, left in a car or when your attention is diverted.  Often the dogs are lured away. 

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN 02.14.2021

DID YOU KNOW? PET THEFT IS A FELONY IN THE USA.

What can you do to protect your pet?

1. Never leave your pet unattended for long in car, etc.
2. Do not tie up outside restaurant or store.
3. Outside the home, watch your pet.
4. Keep information on the collar up to date. Know color of collar. Have pic.
5. Microchip your pet. Keep chip number stored with other vitals and register it with your vet and local animal shelter. AKC Reunite is a one time enrollment fee under $20 per pet. 
6. Have a recent photo, license #s, etc.
7. Watch in your neighborhood for strangers/ door-to-door sales.
8. Spay or neuter your pet.
9. Be sure your fence & lock are in good order.
10. Keep your pet on a leash when away from home.
11. Do not share the monetary value of your pet.
12. Remember, every dog has a value.

DID YOU KNOW? HALF OF ALL STOLEN DOGS ARE TAKEN FROM THE BACKYARD.

If your pet is missing, what do you do?

1. File a police report.
2. Call the local animal shelter, take a picture in, re-check daily. I cannot stress how important pictures are here! 
3. Post pictures everywhere including the shelters and 3 mile area.
4. Check online adoptions, Craigslist, Fido Finder, Lost Pet USA, etc.
5. Check online dog sales venues such as Puppy Find, Craigslist.
6. Walk or drive around calling your pet’s name. During the evening is best because it is easiest to hear you. Remember their hearing is very good. Establish a mile radius from your home.
7. Note the day and time your pet went missing.
8. Notify the microchip company.
9. Recruit Helpers.
10. Notify Neighborhood Watch/ online neighborhood groups- Next Door Neighbor is a great app to check/notify neighbors
11. File with Pet FBI (Pets Found By Internet – not investigators)                            
12. Report and Check Pet FBI's website 
13. Don’t give up hope.  

DID YOU KNOW? 17% OF STOLEN DOGS ARE TAKEN WHEN ON A WALK.

Your Lost Pet Sign

1. Name
2. Breed
3. Gender
4. Size/Wt
5. Color/Markings (very basic/limit detail*)
6. Contact #, email – never address
7. Date Last Seen
8. Include short plea
9. Maybe Include Reward. Do not specify amount.
10. Have pull off tabs on page
11. Keep your sign easily readable.  Templates online.
12. Beware of lost pet scams and fraudulent callers. Keep an identifier to yourself something Wear a collar?  Collar color? # of tags? What do the tags say, anything unique? 

​DID YOU KNOW? 7% OF DOG ARE TAKEN FROM SHOPS OR WHEN YOU'RE DISTRACTED.

When Someone Calls

1. Remember you are talking to a stranger.
2. Get their number. Hang up and call them back.
3. First, Ask for a description. 
   1. Offer nothing.
   2. Do not ask leading questions like, “Does he have white on his chest?”
4. Have a list of questions ask for details and listen.
5. If there is a request to wire money before return of pet or if your pets safety is threatened, breathe, it's a scam.  

DID YOU KNOW? ALMOST 2 MILLION COMPANION ANIMALS WERE STOLEN LAST YEAR.

Some Scam varieties:

1. A truck driver on the long haul found your pet and request you send money
2. You need to repay them for vet bills because pet was hurt
3. Some scams, the caller collects info you have given them, and has their partner contact you with the very information you gave 

How to deter or avoid 

1. No reward until you hold your pet.
2. Meet at public place nearby and take a friend

DID YOU KNOW? DOG THEFT IS ON THE RISE BY NEARLY 33% SINCE LAST YEAR.

​Topmost Stolen Breeds:

American Bulldog
American Pit Bull Terrier
Boston Terrier
Boxers Chihuahua
Cocker Spaniel
French Bulldog
German Shepherd
Husky

Jack Russell
Labradoodle
​Labrador Retriever
Maltese
Pomeranian
Springer Spaniel
​Yorkshire Terrier

What Happens to Stolen Pets?

1. Intact animals can be sold to puppy mills or labs.
2. Labs do not accept spayed or neutered animals.
3. Scams
4. American Pit Bull Terriers are sold most often for fighting dogs or bait. Also, this list includes Boxers, Boston Terriers, and German Shepherds.
5. ‘Flipping’ is ‘finding’ a lost dog and selling it usually on Craigslist.  
6. Mostly dogs are stolen for ransom/reward.
7. ‘Bunchers’ are not regulated and collect from random sources.    
8. Some Flippers operate for years. Sophisticated ones target their breeds.
9. A disgruntled neighbor may take a pet and drop it off somewhere.

REMEMBER: IF THE PHONE RINGS, LET IT RING ONCE, TWICE. TAKE A BREATH, STAY SMART AND FOLLOW A SCRIPT. GIVE AWAY NOTHING.

We hope this never happens to you, however we believe in having at least 2-3 backup plans. It helps to chart out a plan. From the time your bring home your furbaby. This way you have a plan or checklist to follow, and are less like to forget an option or resource. Remember if the phone rings, let it ring twice and take a breath, stay smart. Follow a script.  Give away nothing. 
                                                                    
 
References:
“Beware of ‘Lost Pet’ Scams.” Beware of Missing or Lost Pet Scams, https://www.pawfriendly.com/petcare/lost-pet-scams.shtml.

“Companion Animal Theft.” Animal Legal Defense Fund, 29 Mar. 2022, https://aldf.org/article/companion-animal-theft/.

“Dognapped! Frightening Facts of Pet Theft.” Modern Dog Magazine, https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/dognapped-frightening-facts-pet-theft/147.

Paws. “Pet Theft.” PAWS, https://www.paws.org/resources/pet-theft/.

“Pet FBI Is the Free Database and Information Center for Lost and Found Pets.” Pet FBI Is The Free Database and Information Center For Lost and Found Pets | Pet FBI Pets Found By Internet, https://petfbi.org/.

Petmoo. “How to Prevent Pet Theft? Most Stolen Dog Breeds.” Petmoo, Petmoo.com, 6 Feb. 2019, https://www.petmoo.com/pets/pet-theft/.

Puppy Leaks. “Dog Flipping on the Rise.” Puppy Leaks, 19 Sept. 2017, https://www.puppyleaks.com/dog-flipping-rise/.

Staff, AKC. “Dognapping: How to Keep Your Dog Safe When Pet Theft Is on the Rise.” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 30 Mar. 2022, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/home-living/dog-theft/.

“Stolen Pets.” Stolen Pets | Pet FBI Pets Found By Internet, https://petfbi.org/how-to-protect-your-pet/stolen-pets/.

wikiHow. “How to Make Lost Pet Signs.” WikiHow, WikiHow, 2 Dec. 2021, https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Lost-Pet-Signs.

“Your Dog Has Been Stolen - Here Is What You Need to Do Immediately: NAI.” North American Investigations, 14 Feb. 2020, https://pvteyes.com/stolen-dogs/.