This is happening in every province.
Dog theft is not just confined to “bad” neighborhoods.
- They can be stolen from fenced yards, parked cars, front porches, in front of stores, anywhere a dog is left unattended.
- You need to watch your pets at all times, even in your back yard.
- Gone are the days of letting your dogs roam free out in the country. Even if they stay on your land, they can still be grabbed.
If you think your dog has been stolen, please contact the police to let them know.
Talk to everyone in your area to see if anyone saw anything.
Pets are stolen for many reasons.
- To sell for money for addiction.
- For easy sales of small, purebred dogs like Chihuahuas, Pomeranian, Yorkshire Terriers, and Maltese are the most common targets.
- For breeding if not neutered.
- A pet may be stolen for the prospect of a reward.
- Dog fighting rings snatch breeds that have a reputation as fighters – German Shepherds, Pit Bulls, Boxers, Boston Terriers. They will also use cats.
Advice for Recovering a Stolen Pet:
- File a police report with your local police department immediately. A police report will be useful for identification purposes when retrieving your pet and could prove helpful in court if a suspect is brought to trial.
- Keep searching because it could be possible that your pet was not stolen or that even if stolen, it broke away. Or the thief may just abandon it. Never give up!
- Submit a Lost Dog Report and we will post it on our Facebook page.
- Canvass the area where your pet was last seen to see if anyone observed the theft or saw your dog.
- Put up flyers in prominent places in the area where you think your pet was stolen.
- Contact local media outlets like newspapers, radio and television. Include a photo and provide details about your situation that are likely to arouse sympathy or relate an interesting story.
- If someone does claim to have your pet, never meet in an out of the way place
- When pets are stolen to be sold for a profit, especially pure bred cats and dogs, they may be advertised. Some people have reported that they found their pet offered for sale in a classified ad. Check your local newspaper, Kijiji, Facebook pages.
Ways to Prevent Your Pet From Being Stolen
- Never leave your pet unattended.
- Do not tie your pet up outside a restaurant or a store. Never ever!!
- Do not leave pets in a car, even for a few minutes.
- Even if you have a fenced yard, be careful if it is visible and accessible from the street. Do not leave your pet alone for extended periods.
- Put locks on your gates
- When walking your dog keep it on a leash.
- Have your pets spayed or neutered. Not only will they be less vulnerable to theft, they will be less likely to run off.
- Be sure your pet has good ID : a collar with tags, a tattoo and/or a microchip.
Finally, do not become a party to pet theft by buying a purebred pet without papers and a verifiable source.
Keep a current photo of your pet – just in case…
