The public needs to be aware that pet thieves can be crafty. They may respond to a 'found pet' notice placed by a concerned animal-lover who finds a dog roaming their neighborhood. The thief poses as the pet’s owner and picks up the dog from the helpful neighbor, only to turn around and sell them.
Last year, Lady Gaga’s dog walker and friend Ryan Fischer was shot and
her two French bulldogs stolen after a violent altercation with robbers. The
evidence suggested the suspects—four of which were documented gang
members—were motivated by how lucrative the Frenchies would be to resell.
The pandemic has driven demand for pet companionship, and criminals see an
increased opportunity and are cashing in. Pet theft is up 33% compared to
last year, according to a CNBC report released in the spring. That’s why pet
owners need to be extra vigilant to protect themselves and their dogs from
falling victim to a crime.
Luckily Gaga’s dog walker recovered and the dogs were found and returned.
However, most pet owners are not so lucky because thieves typically quickly
resell stolen dogs for profit. It is estimated that about two million dogs
are stolen each year in the United States and, sadly, only about 10% of
these stolen dogs are reunited with their families.
Springtime was a particularly worrisome time for dog owners in Washington,
DC. Four dognapping incidents occurred in broad daylight from mid-April to
May. A one-year-old French bulldog and an 11-week-old Australian Shepherd
were nabbed from their owners at gunpoint. A four-year-old golden retriever
was taken while tied up outside a CVS in Capitol Hill, and another dog went
missing from in front of a Giant Food.
The CNBC report featured a devastated pet owner from Wisconsin whose Cavapoo
was stolen from his truck while he was in Home Depot; and another from
Arizona whose four dogs and seven she fosters were stolen from her home.
The most stolen breeds are smaller, purebreds because they are easier and
more lucrative to resell, according to the CNBC report. French bulldogs and
Yorkshire terriers top the list. PetKeen, an online pet guide run by
veterinarians, also reports that French bulldogs are the breed most likely
to be stolen in the U.S because they can fetch up to $10,000 apiece.
Adopt-a-Pet.com, a national non-profit pet adoption service, issued an alert
after Gaga’s Frenchies were stolen, calling on pet owners, law enforcement
and tech companies to work together to protect pets.
“As reports of violent pet theft rise around the nation, it’s important for
pet owners to be vigilant,” said Abbie Moore, chief operating officer. “At
the same time, we call on online classified sites to up their screening game
when accepting posts of pets for sale. Pet owners need powerful allies in
this fight to protect their pets.”
And her message to pet buyers: “If you’re buying a pet from a classified ad
or from an unknown seller and you suspect this may be a stolen pet, stay in
touch with the seller and contact your local law enforcement immediately,”
said Moore. “You can also check for lost pet ads that match the pet’s
description. You’ll potentially be saving someone a big broken heart.”
The public needs to be aware that pet thieves can be crafty. They may
respond to a “found pet” notice placed by a concerned animal-lover who finds
a dog roaming their neighborhood. The thief poses as the pet’s owner and
picks up the dog from the helpful neighbor, only to turn around and sell
them.
Sometimes, they may even resort to “adopting” a pet from a shelter not with
the intention of providing a loving home, but with plans to sell the animal
for a profit.
Punishment doesn’t fit the crime
While you may consider your dog family, most state laws don’t agree, so dog
thieves have little to lose. Pet theft most often falls under a state’s
general theft and larceny laws, so stealing a pet isn’t distinguished in any
way from taking a TV, jewelry or other possessions.
We’ve rounded up advice from pet experts to keep you and your furry friends
safe.
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