AKC

AKC

AKC Cautions Pet Owners to Keep an Eye on Fido At Home and On the Road

The American Kennel Club® warned pet owners and breeders about an alarming rise
in dog thefts in recent months and offered tips on keeping pets safe with an
appearance on NBC’s Today Show earlier this month. From parking lots to pet stores
and even backyards, more dogs are disappearing. In the first three months of 2008,
the AKC has tracked more than 30 thefts from news and customer reports, versus
only ten for all twelve months of 2007.

Media reports have chronicled the escalation of these “dog-nappings” from all around
the country. Incidents have included armed robbers entering a breeder’s home, tiny
puppies being stuffed into purses at pet stores and most recently, purebred pets
being snatched from cars in parking lots and even shelters.

“The value of pets in people’s lives has been on the rise for a long time and now we
are seeing thieves trying to capitalize on this. Whether they seek to resell the dog,
collect a ransom or breed the dogs and sell their offspring, thieves seem to be
attuned to the increased financial and emotional value pets have in our lives,” said
AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “Losing a treasured family pet is devastating to the
owner.”

“Criminals look for weaknesses and exploit them. They know pets can’t protect
themselves, so that means owners need to be alert,” said Lt. John Kerwick, a law
enforcement K-9 handler and the President of the U.S. Police Canine Association,
Region 7. “Be wary of anyone who approaches you and asks too many questions
about your dog or where you live. This is a red flag that they may be out to snatch
your pet.”

Peterson added that “These ‘dog-nappers’ are misguided and naïve. They’re stealing
living beings, not jewelry that can be pawned. Plus, it’s unlikely that they can sell the
dogs for high prices without proper registration papers, and these inept criminals are
not realistically going to collect a ransom. Caring for a dog -- and especially breeding
-- is a time consuming endeavor that requires a lot of knowledge. Thieves will find
themselves with a frightened and confused animal that needs a lot of care.”

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 – 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.
Don’t leave your dog unattended in your yard – Dogs left outdoors when no one is
home for long periods of time can be potential targets, especially if you live in a rural
area and the fenced-in yard or dog runs are visible from the street.
Keep purchase price to yourself – If strangers approach you to admire your dog
during walks, don’t answer questions about how much the dog cost or give details
about where you live.
Breeders need to be aware of home visits by potential puppy buyers – Criminals
posing as would be “puppy buyers” have visited breeder homes to snatch dogs, while
other homes have been burglarized when the owner was away. From Yorkies in Los
Angeles to Bulldogs in Connecticut, thieves have targeted young puppies of these
highly coveted breeds.
On the Road
Never leave your dog in an unattended car, even if it’s locked – Even if you are gone
for only a moment, an unlocked car is an invitation for trouble. Also leaving expensive
items in the car such as a GPS unit or laptop will only invite thieves to break and
possibly allow the dog to escape.
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. If you need to go shopping, patronize only dog-friendly retailers or leave
the dog at home.
Be vigilant when entering or leaving establishments or venues catering to dogs such
as grooming salons, veterinarians, doggie day care or hotels –Be aware of your
surroundings, such as slow moving vehicles, or people watching you and your dog.
Carry pepper spray as a precaution and, if possible, don’t walk alone late at night or
stay in a well lit area.
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. Several pets have been recovered because of
alert people scanning and discovering microchips. For more information and to enroll
your pet in a 24 hour recovery service visit www.akccar.org.
If you suspect your dog has been stolen – Immediately call the police / animal
controlin 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 immediately if your pet goes missing.

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