How many of you have tied up your dog outside a coffee shop or left them in the car, just for a moment, a few minutes to grab a quick cup of coffee? If you have, you’re not alone, however you could be endangering your pet! It is estimated that 2 million animals are stolen each year and the percentage of those who are reunited with their owners is only about 10% (Petfinder).
Why do people steal pets?
Many of these animals are kept until a reward is offered, sold to research laboratories, used in dog-fighting as fighters or bait, breeders for puppy mills, sold in pet stores, or even used for ritual acts/sacrifices. Despite the fact that you need a license to sell animals to research laboratories, they are easy to obtain and many animal resellers do not follow the law or health guidelines for these animals. For more information about these licenses click here.
What can you do to prevent it?
- Make sure your dog or cat has up-to-date tags, microchipping, and other identifications. There are now ID tags that lead finders to a website and can help you advertise your lost or stolen pet (ie. ID tags to find lost pets and My Pet Street Pet Alertz). Keep up to date information at home (photos, medical records, licenses, etc).
- Keep your pet indoors and don’t leave them unattended in your yard. (Just recently a family a few miles away had their dog stolen out of the yard!) Secure your yard and property.
- Spay and Neuter your pets, fixed animals are less likely to stray and also won’t appeal to those who want to breed animals.
- Do not leave your pet unattended outside, it’s best to leave them at home to run your errands.
- Keep copies of proof of ownership (ie. adoption or breeding papers, receipts, etc).
Re-home your pet safely
If for some reason you have to give up your pet, please read our Surrendering Your Pet blog entry. There are unscrupulous people out there who pick up pets from “Free to Good Home” ads and re-sell them or put them in abusive situations. Petfinder also has good information to consider when re-homeing your pet.