My Friendly Pets

In an entry a couple of days back, I spoke about an “Amber alert” system for dogs. Check it out here. This may become an necessity for many dog owners as it appears that dog snatching is on the rise. The number of dogs that are now stolen has increased dramatically and there are several reasons for this fact. The value of pets in the lives of their owners is extremely high. In fact, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC), 88% of American families consider their pets as family members. Pets can now be taken and held for ransom, and many people are willing to pay what is asked, just to get their beloved pooch back.

Also, similar to car thiefs, these dognappers know what breeds are worth and will focus on stealing those that will provide them with the highest rate of return. Dogs with a high value that are also more easily stolen are usually the small (toy) dogs that are now so popular with celebreties. Dogs like Chihuahuas, Yorkshire terriers and Maltese are especially vulnerable to the actions of dog thieves. Some of these dogs are in such high demand that a stolen dog could be worth $2500 or more to the dognappers. Most will not steal to breed the dogs because the dollar value of the dog is greatly reduced with out all of the necessary
AKC paperwork which legitmizes the dog and its bloodline.

One of the increasingly popular tactics that is being used to steal these poor pups is that dognappers respond to advertisements about puppies for sale and make their move then. Breeders should take notice of whom they are allowing into their homes to view and/or purchase their puppies. No one should be allowed in without detailed information and identification and never meet with a potential buyer alone. Make sure that there is at least one other person in the home at the time of the visit.

Some additional tips that can help your dog remain safe and at home include:
Never leave your dog unattended outside
Never ever leave your dog unattended in the car even if it is locked
Make sure your dog has proper identification, preferably a tatoo or microchip that can be read with a scanner
When walking, keep your dog on a leash
And if buying a dog, make sure you are not buying someone else’s pup…in other words make sure the dog isn’t stolen goods. ASK FOR PROOF OF OWNERSHIP!!!!

For those looking for some wholesome nutrition without the meat, check out the great vegan pizza pie by Shelly Andersen.