The odds that your dog will be stolen are rising quickly in the United States. Dog thefts are considered a property crime, and while the exact number is unknown, it’s estimated that two million dogs a year are stolen from their owners.http://www.petplace.com/dogs/stolen-dogs-nine-ways-to-prevent-theft/page1.aspx?utm_source=dogcrazynews001et&utm_medium=email&utm_content=petplace_article&utm_campaign=dailynewsletter

Stolen dogs are often sold to research labs or unsuspecting dog lovers, used as fighting dogs (or perhaps worse, bait for fighting dogs) or in cult rituals. Dog thieves are becoming more brazen, even snatching puppies from the arms of children at public parks and playgrounds. Some stolen dogs are held for ransom, with huge sums of money demanded from the owners for the return of their beloved pets.http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=4013

Keep your dog close to you to prevent him from being stolen. You may be careful not to leave your dog alone in public or allow him to roam free, but dog-nappers may bold enough to steal your dog from your own backyard! Take measures to protect your dog at home as well as in public to avoid the agony of a missing dog and not knowing whether he’s alive and unharmed, or if you’ll ever see him again!

Finding your dog once it’s been stolen is often just a matter of luck. Keeping your dog close to you is the best way to keep him safe from dog-nappers. Please use this guide to learn how to protect your dog from being stolen.

Your dog should always wear a collar with ID tags. A collar and tags will show that your dog has an owner and isn’t a stray or feral dog. If he’s simply run off and an honest person finds him they’ll be able to contact you.

A collar and tags can come off, or be taken off, so your dog should have a secondary and permanent form of ID such as a microchip or tattoo. If your dog ends up in an animal shelter without his collar and tags, the staff may be able to identify your dog by his secondary ID. These permanent ID methods aren’t foolproof, so don’t rely on them. Your dog should always wear his collar and tags.

A smart dog owner will be prepared for the possibility that his dog may be stolen. Create a “lost dog” flyer so that if your dog does run off and become missing or you know that he’s been stolen, you’ll save time by having a flyer ready to post on community bulletins boards and pass around to local authorities, animal shelters, and dog-related businesses.

Your flyer should contain clear photos of your dog from different angles–a profile view, head on and from the rear. Be sure that any identifiable marking or features are easy to see in the images. Give a general description of your dog: breed, size, weight, sex, color, and describe unusual markings, scars, or other identifying features. Include your contact information.

You should also keep all of your dog’s records in one place where you can find them quickly. Keep purchase receipts, breeders’ records, veterinary records and any other records that prove your ownership. If your dog is unidentified and you can’t prove without a doubt that he’s your dog, it becomes your word against the finder’s.

When you allow your dog to roam freely about the neighborhood, he’s at the mercy of any unscrupulous person who is looking for dogs to steal. If your dog bolts the door and runs down the street, refusing to come back when you call him, begin searching for him right away; it may only be a few minutes before a dog thief finds him.

Keep an eye on your dog when he’s tethered outside in the yard. Dog thieves may be bold enough to walk into your yard, and it only takes a few seconds to unsnap the hook of your dog’s collar. Small dogs are easy to lift over a low fence. A tall fence with a locked gate is the safest choice but locks can be picked! If you can’t stay outside with your dog, be sure to check on him regularly.

Don’t take your dog shopping or on errands with you if you are going to places where dogs aren’t allowed inside the building. Dogs who are left tied outside a store while the owner is shopping are extremely vulnerable to being stolen; they can’t escape if a stranger approaches them. You may intend to be in the store for only a few minutes, but it will take less time than that for a dog thief to unsnap your dog’s lead or collar and make a getaway.

Leaving your dog locked inside your car is also risky. In addition to the risk of the dog overheating inside the car, it only takes a matter of seconds for a dog thief to jimmy open your car door and steal your dog.

Don’t assume your dog has run off and will return home when he’s ready. He may have done so countless times, but that doesn’t guarantee he will this time. Contact your local police department immediately, but don’t be surprised if they don’t offer much help unless you’re absolutely certain your dog has been stolen; in the grand scheme of things, a missing dog isn’t going to be their top priority. However, it may be that a person who finds your dog will report it to the police department.

Organize a search for your dog by asking your friends, neighbors and family members to help. Send them out in groups, each in a different direction, to search your neighborhood and then expand the search outward if necessary. Send flyers with your search parties so they can post them on street corners or show them to neighbors or other people they cross paths with while searching for your dog.

Call the dog in a calm, encouraging voice. Screaming your dog’s name in panic or anger may cause him to think he’s in trouble and avoid you. Use a sing-song voice and use your dog’s nickname if he has one, whatever name you call him when it’s time to eat or play.

Notify local and regional animal shelters that your dog is missing. FAX them a copy of your “lost dog” flyer in case someone finds your dog and takes it to a shelter. FAX or take copies to other dog-related businesses in the area as well. If your dog has been stolen and resold to an unsuspecting owner, he might show up at a veterinarian’s office, a boarding kennel, canine obedience classes, a grooming salon, or pet store. The more people you make aware of your dog’s disappearance, the more likely you are to find him.

Visit animal shelters in the area regularly and in person. Your dog may not look like his photos in the flyer if or when he arrives at a shelter--he may be emaciated, dirty and matted, and the staff may not recognize him.