 |
 |
|
|
Animal ATTRACTION |
|
April 2008
Categories
More KHOU Blogs
|
AKC Offers Tips to Keep Pets Safe
The American Kennel Club® is warning pet owners and breeders about an alarming rise in dog thefts in recent months. 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, including the KHOU-TV story Houston area a hotbed for dognapping?", 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 . "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." 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. 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. 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. 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. Click here for more information on lost pet recovery. 8 CommentsLeave a comment |
Heed this warning! Last year my dog Nicky was stolen right out of my yard, along with a neighbors dog. I'm pretty sure it was one of the brick layers working on my next door neighbors house. However, we haven't been able to prove it and the police haven't turned up anything either. My neighborhood isn't one that a lot of people come in and out of. There's only one way in and out, it's not a very convenient in, and it's in between Winnie and Beaumont. SO, there's not alot of people just driving through. It's too much of a hassle. The day that they finished was the day that they disappeared. That's the only explanation we can come up with. Of course all of the workers deny it and the boss said he hasn't seen any of them with the dogs. It's heartbreaking! We miss her very much and don't know if she's safe and taken care of or if she's enduring something that is unspeakable. I let her outside in the yard during the day while we were at work, unless it was nasty weather because of seperation issues (she was severely neglected by her former owners) and I couldn't afford for her to tear up the house (because we rent). That was a very sad lesson for me to learn! I never let my other dogs out when not at home. I wish I wouldn't have let her out. So take this VERY seriously! If it can happen in a little bitty town, it certainly can happen in Houston and other areas!
Stories like Melody's break my heart! And I see new LOST ads on Craigslist every day for pets that were snatched, sometimes right in front of their helpless owners while they were out in the yard. It really is gutwrenching!
I'm always after my boyfriend to not let his dog out to potty by himself but he does it anyway. TheBoy is a good dog and usually stays close but sometimes he follows his nose (or a cat or another dog) further than he normally would and so he doesn't hear my boyfriend when he calls for him to come in.
The time we spend walking and driving around looking for him his terrifying! I'm just so afraid that one day we won't be able to find him and it will be because someone picked him up. Were that to ever happen I don't think I could forgive myself and TheBoy isn't even MY dog.
So YES! microchip your pets and guard them as dilligently as you would your own flesh and blood child. Too many people these days have no remorse about doing something so horribly callous.
Melody, I am so very sorry to hear about your beloved Nicky!! I can imagine how hard this is for you because I know Nicky was a member of your family!! I will include you and Nicky in my prayers!!
Thanks Donna! We'll take all the prayers that we can get! It is terribly hard! Especially because I feel that it's my fault. We are so remote that I never dreamed that my girl would be at risk! Especially right out of my yard! They don't believe that we'll ever find her. (She hasn't turned up in any shelters either.) So I pray that whoever took her is taking care of her and loving her. If they wanted a dog, there are lots out there without homes! They didn't have to take mine!
Melody - please dont be so hard on yourself!! You had no way of knowing that she would be taken!! I think it is really sad that the police cant do - or wont do - anything to find her!! This was theft - or even kidnapping considering Nicky was a member of your family!! I will never ever stop praying that she is found safe and returned to you!!! My heart goes out to you!!
Thanks Donna for your prayers and concern. You are so sweet! I try not to be so hard on myself, but my pets are my babies. It's the NOT KNOWING that's so hard! The biggest problem is that there is no evidence to point in any direction, except for the coincidence of them disappearing the day the brick layers finished. But so far, they all deny it and apparently haven't been seen with either dog. We keep checking and searching but it's now been almost 4 months. (Didn't make for a happy Christmas!) What it has taught me is that you can't let your guard down no matter how safe you think you or your pets are! So, my other babies do not go outside without me being there! PERIOD!
Melody - Yes, I know they are your babies!! And NO - you cant let your guard down ever!! Ever!! I am just so sad that you had to learn the way you did!! I dont trust anyone not to take anything - sometimes I just dont trust period!! But the coincidence just seems too coincidental to really be coincidence - especially with the neighbor dog going missing too!! Dont ever give up, Melody!! I know it must be hard to continue the search - always waiting ahd hoping!! But I know of a woman in my neighborhood who found her dog after about 5 mos - he was found several neighborhoods away and had been passed through several families (appears they were all good people and were passing the dog trying to do good things for the dog). But he was finally found!! Please know that I will worry about you and Nicky until the day I hear he has been found. Tears have already been shed!! Prayers will never stop!!
I won't ever give up on her. I keep thinking that one day whoever took her will slip up and have her where someone will see her and Sammy then let me know. Or she'll end up at a vet or shelter who will scan her and see that she's mine. (I don't think that Sammy, the other dog, is microchipped. BUT if he's with her and they see she's someone elses, MAYBE he'll be saved too.) Or she'll escape and make her way home. I've heard stories like that before! I keep hoping! If she, and Sammy, ever come home I'll let you know! Thank you again for your prayer and concern! There is power in prayer!