Protect Your
Pet from Theft
Reprinted from AKC
Newsletter
From parking lots to
pet stores and even
backyards, dog
thefts are on the
rise. Thefts range
from tiny puppies
being stuffed into
purses at pet stores
to, most recently,
purebred pets being
snatched from cars
in parking lots and
shelters. The AKC
offers the following
advice to prevent
your “best friend”
from being a target
of a crime:
At Home
- 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. A Saint
Bernard that had
wandered away
from his owner
in Nebraska was
snatched up
right off the
road.
- Breeders
need to be aware
of home visits
by potential
puppy buyers.
From Yorkies in
Los Angeles to
Bulldogs in
Connecticut,
thieves posing
as would be
“puppy buyers”
have visited
breeder homes to
snatch dogs,
while other
homes have been
burglarized when
the owner was
away.
On the Road
- Never leave
your dog in an
unattended car,
even if it’s
locked.
- Don’t tie
your dog outside
a store. This
popular practice
among city
dwelling dog
owners can be a
recipe for
disaster.
Reports have
surfaced of such
thefts in
Manhattan.
- Be vigilant.
Always remain
aware of your
surroundings
when entering or
leaving any
dog-friendly
establishments.
Recovery
- Protect your
dog with
microchip
identification.
Collars and tags
can be removed
so make sure you
have permanent
ID with a
microchip. Keep
contact
information
current with
your recovery
service
provider. For
more information
and to enroll
your pet in a 24
hour recovery
service visit
http://www.akccar.org/.
If you
suspect your dog
has been stolen.
Immediately call
the police /
animal control
and pet shelters
in the area your
pet was last
seen.
Have fliers
with a recent
photo ready to
go if your dog
goes missing.
Keep a photo of
your dog in your
wallet or on an
easily
accessible web
account so that
you can
distribute it
immediately if
your pet goes
missing.
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