As a dog parent, one of my worst nightmares is dognapping. As a result, I’m pretty obsessive about the safety of my own dogs, and I always worry about dog theft when I see dogs tied to bike racks and lampposts outside of coffee shops, grocery stores and other spots around New York City.<\/p>\n
So, what is dognapping? Why does it happen and are certain breeds or types of dogs targeted? How do you prevent it in the first place? What do you do if it happens to you?<\/p>\n
Dognapping \u2014 the stats<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/abandoned-dog.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDognappings have increased 31% in recent years. Photography by Pedro Vidal \/ Shutterstock.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
An estimated two million pets are stolen every year in the United States. The American Kennel Club, which tracks instances of dog theft from their National Pet Theft Database<\/a>, found a 31% increase in dognappings in recent years, with\u00a0newly stolen dogs reported daily from communities across the country.<\/p>\nWhy do dognappings happen?<\/h3>\n
Dognappings happen\u00a0for many reasons and dogs\u00a0may change hands multiple times after being stolen, which makes them even harder to locate. Thieves often steal dogs hoping to make money off of them. This might be someone looking\u00a0to collect a reward, or something even more sinister.<\/p>\n
Intact dogs (canines that aren’t\u00a0spayed or neutered) may be sold to puppy mills or backyard breeders, small dogs or dogs of popular, expensive breeds might\u00a0be taken and resold, or dogs may be sold to dog fighting rings either as fighters or bait dogs.<\/p>\n
According to\u00a0Pet FBI, some of the top small dogs targeted\u00a0for cash include purebred<\/a>\u00a0Yorkshire Terriers<\/a>, Pomeranians<\/a>, Maltese<\/a> and Chihuahuas<\/a>, while\u00a0Pit Bulls<\/a>, Boston Terriers<\/a>, German Shepherd Dogs<\/a> and Boxers<\/a> fall victim to theft\u00a0for dogfighting rings.\u00a0In NYC, there has been a rise of dognappings of small dogs<\/a>\u00a0in return for cash.<\/p>\n
\nHow do you keep your dog safe from dognappers?<\/strong><\/h2>\n1. Never leave your dog unattended in public places or in your yard<\/h3>\n
Unattended dogs are easy targets for dognappers. If you are running errands that aren\u2019t dog friendly, leave your dog at home.<\/p>\n
2. Be proactive about dognapping<\/h3>\n
Hopefully your dog never goes missing, but you\u2019ll need to prove\u00a0he belongs to you if he does. Microchip your dog, and ensure that your contact information is up to date with your microchip company. Thieves\u00a0could remove a collar and tags, but microchips are permanent forms of identification for your dog. Some dog guardians even use\u00a0the advanced technology of Dog DNA tests to prove the identity of their dogs.<\/p>\n
3. Hire professionals when it comes to pet-care providers\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h3>\nIn recent years, there have been several high-profile cases<\/a> of dogs going missing while in the care of dog sitters<\/a> \u2014 and never being seen again. Only hire responsible, insured and trusted pet-care providers and always check references before hiring a walker, daycare or sitter.<\/p>\n4. Use caution with overly curious strangers \u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nBe very guarded with your dog’s information. Sometimes, dognappers will try to determine how much a dog is worth, and if they’re spayed or neutered before taking them. Deflect detailed questions from strangers \u2014\u00a0particularly about how much your dog cost.<\/p>\n
\nWhat to do if someone steals your dog:<\/strong><\/h2>\n1. Get help<\/h3>\n
Immediately call the police and your local animal control department. File a police report.<\/p>\n
2. Talk to everyone<\/h3>\n
Try to find any witnesses who might have seen the dognapping occur. This will\u00a0help you and the police get information about who has or had your dog. Distribute current, clear photos of your dog right away.<\/p>\n
3. Research and use every available resource<\/h3>\n
Search out local lost and found groups online and on Facebook.<\/p>\n
Other helpful sites include:<\/p>\n
\n- akcreunite.org<\/a><\/li>\n
- aspca.org\/pet-care\/general-pet-care\/aspca-mobile-app<\/a><\/li>\n
- homeagain.com<\/a><\/li>\n
- petfbi.org<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
4. Contact the media<\/h3>\n
Social media sites like Facebook are\u00a0instrumental in spreading the word about lost or stolen dogs. Don\u2019t forget to contact your local media \u2014 newspapers, TV and radio \u2014 to try to increase coverage of your dog’s disappearance.<\/p>\n
5. Protect yourself, too<\/h3>\n
People whose dogs are missing are vulnerable to being taken advantage of even further. I can\u2019t even imagine how desperate I would be if something happened to one of my dogs \u2014 I would want to do everything and anything in my power to get them back.<\/p>\n
The Better Business Bureau<\/a>\u00a0warns pet owners to watch out for\u00a0scam artists who demand reward money before they return the missing dog.<\/p>\nFor example,\u00a0someone\u00a0calling to say they are a long-haul truck driver who found your dog out of state and requesting money to get your dog back to your state, or someone saying they need money for airline tickets and a crate to ship your lost dog back.<\/p>\n
Thumbnail: Photography \u00a9gaikphotos | Thinkstock.<\/em><\/p>\nRead more about dog safety on Dogster.com:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- 7 Storm Preparedness Tips for Dog Owners<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- 6 Household Cleaning Products That Are Not Safe for Dogs<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- When Should You Call an Emergency Vet and How Do You Find One?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sassafras Lowrey is an award-winning author. Her novels have been honored by organizations ranging from the Lambda Literary Foundation to the American Library Association. Sassafras is a Certified Trick Dog Trainer, and assists with dog agility classes. Sassafras lives and writes in Brooklyn with her partner, a senior Chihuahua mix, a rescued Shepherd mix and a Newfoundland puppy, along with two bossy cats and a semi-feral kitten. Learn more at <\/em>sassafraslowrey.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\nThe post Dognapping: How to Protect Your Dog and Get Him Back If He\u2019s Stolen<\/a> by Sassafras Lowrey<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
The post Dognapping: How to Protect Your Dog and Get Him Back If He\u2019s Stolen<\/a> by Sassafras Lowrey<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\nAs a dog parent, one of my worst nightmares is dognapping. As a result, I’m pretty obsessive about the safety of my own dogs, and I always worry about dog theft when I see dogs tied to bike racks and lampposts outside of coffee shops, grocery stores and other spots around New York City.<\/p>\n
So, what is dognapping? Why does it happen and are certain breeds or types of dogs targeted? How do you prevent it in the first place? What do you do if it happens to you?<\/p>\n
Dognapping \u2014 the stats<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/p>\nDognappings have increased 31% in recent years. Photography by Pedro Vidal \/ Shutterstock.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
An estimated two million pets are stolen every year in the United States. The American Kennel Club, which tracks instances of dog theft from their National Pet Theft Database<\/a>, found a 31% increase in dognappings in recent years, with\u00a0newly stolen dogs reported daily from communities across the country.<\/p>\nWhy do dognappings happen?<\/h3>\n
Dognappings happen\u00a0for many reasons and dogs\u00a0may change hands multiple times after being stolen, which makes them even harder to locate. Thieves often steal dogs hoping to make money off of them. This might be someone looking\u00a0to collect a reward, or something even more sinister.<\/p>\n
Intact dogs (canines that aren’t\u00a0spayed or neutered) may be sold to puppy mills or backyard breeders, small dogs or dogs of popular, expensive breeds might\u00a0be taken and resold, or dogs may be sold to dog fighting rings either as fighters or bait dogs.<\/p>\n
According to\u00a0Pet FBI, some of the top small dogs targeted\u00a0for cash include purebred<\/a>\u00a0Yorkshire Terriers<\/a>, Pomeranians<\/a>, Maltese<\/a> and Chihuahuas<\/a>, while\u00a0Pit Bulls<\/a>, Boston Terriers<\/a>, German Shepherd Dogs<\/a> and Boxers<\/a> fall victim to theft\u00a0for dogfighting rings.\u00a0In NYC, there has been a rise of dognappings of small dogs<\/a>\u00a0in return for cash.<\/p>\n
\nHow do you keep your dog safe from dognappers?<\/strong><\/h2>\n1. Never leave your dog unattended in public places or in your yard<\/h3>\n
Unattended dogs are easy targets for dognappers. If you are running errands that aren\u2019t dog friendly, leave your dog at home.<\/p>\n
2. Be proactive about dognapping<\/h3>\n
Hopefully your dog never goes missing, but you\u2019ll need to prove\u00a0he belongs to you if he does. Microchip your dog, and ensure that your contact information is up to date with your microchip company. Thieves\u00a0could remove a collar and tags, but microchips are permanent forms of identification for your dog. Some dog guardians even use\u00a0the advanced technology of Dog DNA tests to prove the identity of their dogs.<\/p>\n
3. Hire professionals when it comes to pet-care providers\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h3>\nIn recent years, there have been several high-profile cases<\/a> of dogs going missing while in the care of dog sitters<\/a> \u2014 and never being seen again. Only hire responsible, insured and trusted pet-care providers and always check references before hiring a walker, daycare or sitter.<\/p>\n4. Use caution with overly curious strangers \u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nBe very guarded with your dog’s information. Sometimes, dognappers will try to determine how much a dog is worth, and if they’re spayed or neutered before taking them. Deflect detailed questions from strangers \u2014\u00a0particularly about how much your dog cost.<\/p>\n
\nWhat to do if someone steals your dog:<\/strong><\/h2>\n1. Get help<\/h3>\n
Immediately call the police and your local animal control department. File a police report.<\/p>\n
2. Talk to everyone<\/h3>\n
Try to find any witnesses who might have seen the dognapping occur. This will\u00a0help you and the police get information about who has or had your dog. Distribute current, clear photos of your dog right away.<\/p>\n
3. Research and use every available resource<\/h3>\n
Search out local lost and found groups online and on Facebook.<\/p>\n
Other helpful sites include:<\/p>\n
\n- akcreunite.org<\/a><\/li>\n
- aspca.org\/pet-care\/general-pet-care\/aspca-mobile-app<\/a><\/li>\n
- homeagain.com<\/a><\/li>\n
- petfbi.org<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
4. Contact the media<\/h3>\n
Social media sites like Facebook are\u00a0instrumental in spreading the word about lost or stolen dogs. Don\u2019t forget to contact your local media \u2014 newspapers, TV and radio \u2014 to try to increase coverage of your dog’s disappearance.<\/p>\n
5. Protect yourself, too<\/h3>\n
People whose dogs are missing are vulnerable to being taken advantage of even further. I can\u2019t even imagine how desperate I would be if something happened to one of my dogs \u2014 I would want to do everything and anything in my power to get them back.<\/p>\n
The Better Business Bureau<\/a>\u00a0warns pet owners to watch out for\u00a0scam artists who demand reward money before they return the missing dog.<\/p>\nFor example,\u00a0someone\u00a0calling to say they are a long-haul truck driver who found your dog out of state and requesting money to get your dog back to your state, or someone saying they need money for airline tickets and a crate to ship your lost dog back.<\/p>\n
Thumbnail: Photography \u00a9gaikphotos | Thinkstock.<\/em><\/p>\nRead more about dog safety on Dogster.com:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- 7 Storm Preparedness Tips for Dog Owners<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- 6 Household Cleaning Products That Are Not Safe for Dogs<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- When Should You Call an Emergency Vet and How Do You Find One?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sassafras Lowrey is an award-winning author. Her novels have been honored by organizations ranging from the Lambda Literary Foundation to the American Library Association. Sassafras is a Certified Trick Dog Trainer, and assists with dog agility classes. Sassafras lives and writes in Brooklyn with her partner, a senior Chihuahua mix, a rescued Shepherd mix and a Newfoundland puppy, along with two bossy cats and a semi-feral kitten. Learn more at <\/em>sassafraslowrey.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\nThe post Dognapping: How to Protect Your Dog and Get Him Back If He\u2019s Stolen<\/a> by Sassafras Lowrey<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/p>\nDognappings have increased 31% in recent years. Photography by Pedro Vidal \/ Shutterstock.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
An estimated two million pets are stolen every year in the United States. The American Kennel Club, which tracks instances of dog theft from their National Pet Theft Database<\/a>, found a 31% increase in dognappings in recent years, with\u00a0newly stolen dogs reported daily from communities across the country.<\/p>\n Dognappings happen\u00a0for many reasons and dogs\u00a0may change hands multiple times after being stolen, which makes them even harder to locate. Thieves often steal dogs hoping to make money off of them. This might be someone looking\u00a0to collect a reward, or something even more sinister.<\/p>\n Intact dogs (canines that aren’t\u00a0spayed or neutered) may be sold to puppy mills or backyard breeders, small dogs or dogs of popular, expensive breeds might\u00a0be taken and resold, or dogs may be sold to dog fighting rings either as fighters or bait dogs.<\/p>\n According to\u00a0Pet FBI, some of the top small dogs targeted\u00a0for cash include purebred<\/a>\u00a0Yorkshire Terriers<\/a>, Pomeranians<\/a>, Maltese<\/a> and Chihuahuas<\/a>, while\u00a0Pit Bulls<\/a>, Boston Terriers<\/a>, German Shepherd Dogs<\/a> and Boxers<\/a> fall victim to theft\u00a0for dogfighting rings.\u00a0In NYC, there has been a rise of dognappings of small dogs<\/a>\u00a0in return for cash.<\/p>\n Unattended dogs are easy targets for dognappers. If you are running errands that aren\u2019t dog friendly, leave your dog at home.<\/p>\n Hopefully your dog never goes missing, but you\u2019ll need to prove\u00a0he belongs to you if he does. Microchip your dog, and ensure that your contact information is up to date with your microchip company. Thieves\u00a0could remove a collar and tags, but microchips are permanent forms of identification for your dog. Some dog guardians even use\u00a0the advanced technology of Dog DNA tests to prove the identity of their dogs.<\/p>\n In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases<\/a> of dogs going missing while in the care of dog sitters<\/a> \u2014 and never being seen again. Only hire responsible, insured and trusted pet-care providers and always check references before hiring a walker, daycare or sitter.<\/p>\n Be very guarded with your dog’s information. Sometimes, dognappers will try to determine how much a dog is worth, and if they’re spayed or neutered before taking them. Deflect detailed questions from strangers \u2014\u00a0particularly about how much your dog cost.<\/p>\n Immediately call the police and your local animal control department. File a police report.<\/p>\n Try to find any witnesses who might have seen the dognapping occur. This will\u00a0help you and the police get information about who has or had your dog. Distribute current, clear photos of your dog right away.<\/p>\n Search out local lost and found groups online and on Facebook.<\/p>\n Other helpful sites include:<\/p>\n Social media sites like Facebook are\u00a0instrumental in spreading the word about lost or stolen dogs. Don\u2019t forget to contact your local media \u2014 newspapers, TV and radio \u2014 to try to increase coverage of your dog’s disappearance.<\/p>\n People whose dogs are missing are vulnerable to being taken advantage of even further. I can\u2019t even imagine how desperate I would be if something happened to one of my dogs \u2014 I would want to do everything and anything in my power to get them back.<\/p>\n The Better Business Bureau<\/a>\u00a0warns pet owners to watch out for\u00a0scam artists who demand reward money before they return the missing dog.<\/p>\n For example,\u00a0someone\u00a0calling to say they are a long-haul truck driver who found your dog out of state and requesting money to get your dog back to your state, or someone saying they need money for airline tickets and a crate to ship your lost dog back.<\/p>\n Thumbnail: Photography \u00a9gaikphotos | Thinkstock.<\/em><\/p>\n Read more about dog safety on Dogster.com:<\/strong><\/p>\n Sassafras Lowrey is an award-winning author. Her novels have been honored by organizations ranging from the Lambda Literary Foundation to the American Library Association. Sassafras is a Certified Trick Dog Trainer, and assists with dog agility classes. Sassafras lives and writes in Brooklyn with her partner, a senior Chihuahua mix, a rescued Shepherd mix and a Newfoundland puppy, along with two bossy cats and a semi-feral kitten. Learn more at <\/em>sassafraslowrey.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The post Dognapping: How to Protect Your Dog and Get Him Back If He\u2019s Stolen<\/a> by Sassafras Lowrey<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post Dognapping: How to Protect Your Dog and Get Him Back If He\u2019s Stolen<\/a> by Sassafras Lowrey<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n As a dog parent, one of my worst nightmares is dognapping. As a result, I’m pretty obsessive about the safety of my own dogs, and I always worry about dog theft when I see dogs tied to bike racks and lampposts outside of coffee shops, grocery stores and other spots around New York City.<\/p>\n So, what is dognapping? Why does it happen and are certain breeds or types of dogs targeted? How do you prevent it in the first place? What do you do if it happens to you?<\/p>\n Dognappings have increased 31% in recent years. Photography by Pedro Vidal \/ Shutterstock.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n An estimated two million pets are stolen every year in the United States. The American Kennel Club, which tracks instances of dog theft from their National Pet Theft Database<\/a>, found a 31% increase in dognappings in recent years, with\u00a0newly stolen dogs reported daily from communities across the country.<\/p>\n Dognappings happen\u00a0for many reasons and dogs\u00a0may change hands multiple times after being stolen, which makes them even harder to locate. Thieves often steal dogs hoping to make money off of them. This might be someone looking\u00a0to collect a reward, or something even more sinister.<\/p>\n Intact dogs (canines that aren’t\u00a0spayed or neutered) may be sold to puppy mills or backyard breeders, small dogs or dogs of popular, expensive breeds might\u00a0be taken and resold, or dogs may be sold to dog fighting rings either as fighters or bait dogs.<\/p>\n According to\u00a0Pet FBI, some of the top small dogs targeted\u00a0for cash include purebred<\/a>\u00a0Yorkshire Terriers<\/a>, Pomeranians<\/a>, Maltese<\/a> and Chihuahuas<\/a>, while\u00a0Pit Bulls<\/a>, Boston Terriers<\/a>, German Shepherd Dogs<\/a> and Boxers<\/a> fall victim to theft\u00a0for dogfighting rings.\u00a0In NYC, there has been a rise of dognappings of small dogs<\/a>\u00a0in return for cash.<\/p>\n Unattended dogs are easy targets for dognappers. If you are running errands that aren\u2019t dog friendly, leave your dog at home.<\/p>\n Hopefully your dog never goes missing, but you\u2019ll need to prove\u00a0he belongs to you if he does. Microchip your dog, and ensure that your contact information is up to date with your microchip company. Thieves\u00a0could remove a collar and tags, but microchips are permanent forms of identification for your dog. Some dog guardians even use\u00a0the advanced technology of Dog DNA tests to prove the identity of their dogs.<\/p>\n In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases<\/a> of dogs going missing while in the care of dog sitters<\/a> \u2014 and never being seen again. Only hire responsible, insured and trusted pet-care providers and always check references before hiring a walker, daycare or sitter.<\/p>\n Be very guarded with your dog’s information. Sometimes, dognappers will try to determine how much a dog is worth, and if they’re spayed or neutered before taking them. Deflect detailed questions from strangers \u2014\u00a0particularly about how much your dog cost.<\/p>\n Immediately call the police and your local animal control department. File a police report.<\/p>\n Try to find any witnesses who might have seen the dognapping occur. This will\u00a0help you and the police get information about who has or had your dog. Distribute current, clear photos of your dog right away.<\/p>\n Search out local lost and found groups online and on Facebook.<\/p>\n Other helpful sites include:<\/p>\n Social media sites like Facebook are\u00a0instrumental in spreading the word about lost or stolen dogs. Don\u2019t forget to contact your local media \u2014 newspapers, TV and radio \u2014 to try to increase coverage of your dog’s disappearance.<\/p>\n People whose dogs are missing are vulnerable to being taken advantage of even further. I can\u2019t even imagine how desperate I would be if something happened to one of my dogs \u2014 I would want to do everything and anything in my power to get them back.<\/p>\n The Better Business Bureau<\/a>\u00a0warns pet owners to watch out for\u00a0scam artists who demand reward money before they return the missing dog.<\/p>\n For example,\u00a0someone\u00a0calling to say they are a long-haul truck driver who found your dog out of state and requesting money to get your dog back to your state, or someone saying they need money for airline tickets and a crate to ship your lost dog back.<\/p>\n Thumbnail: Photography \u00a9gaikphotos | Thinkstock.<\/em><\/p>\n Read more about dog safety on Dogster.com:<\/strong><\/p>\n Sassafras Lowrey is an award-winning author. Her novels have been honored by organizations ranging from the Lambda Literary Foundation to the American Library Association. Sassafras is a Certified Trick Dog Trainer, and assists with dog agility classes. Sassafras lives and writes in Brooklyn with her partner, a senior Chihuahua mix, a rescued Shepherd mix and a Newfoundland puppy, along with two bossy cats and a semi-feral kitten. Learn more at <\/em>sassafraslowrey.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The post Dognapping: How to Protect Your Dog and Get Him Back If He\u2019s Stolen<\/a> by Sassafras Lowrey<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy do dognappings happen?<\/h3>\n
\nHow do you keep your dog safe from dognappers?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Never leave your dog unattended in public places or in your yard<\/h3>\n
2. Be proactive about dognapping<\/h3>\n
3. Hire professionals when it comes to pet-care providers\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Use caution with overly curious strangers \u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nWhat to do if someone steals your dog:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Get help<\/h3>\n
2. Talk to everyone<\/h3>\n
3. Research and use every available resource<\/h3>\n
\n
4. Contact the media<\/h3>\n
5. Protect yourself, too<\/h3>\n
\n
Dognapping \u2014 the stats<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nWhy do dognappings happen?<\/h3>\n
\nHow do you keep your dog safe from dognappers?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Never leave your dog unattended in public places or in your yard<\/h3>\n
2. Be proactive about dognapping<\/h3>\n
3. Hire professionals when it comes to pet-care providers\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Use caution with overly curious strangers \u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nWhat to do if someone steals your dog:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Get help<\/h3>\n
2. Talk to everyone<\/h3>\n
3. Research and use every available resource<\/h3>\n
\n
4. Contact the media<\/h3>\n
5. Protect yourself, too<\/h3>\n
\n