The good news is that crime is down. The bad news is that not all crime is down. One offense in particular is on the rise: dognapping. According to pet expert Andrea Arden, thieves across America are pilfering pooches.
Puppies in Peril
Dognapping, Arden writes in her article “Pets as Prey: The Alarming Rise in Dognapping,” has become a specialized criminal enterprise. Thieves target toy breeds like chihuahuas, Yorkshire terriers, and Maltese, all hot commodities that fetch upward of $2,500 at market rates or in ransom money.
That’s right—ransom money. These kinds of dogs aren’t just valuable as pets; their owners treat them as members of the family and will do anything to get them back. According to American Kennel Club (AKC) spokesperson Lisa Peterson, “the value of pets in people’s lives has been on the rise over the years, so thieves are trying to capitalize on this.” The AKC estimates that 88 percent of people think their dogs are members of their families, so “thieves know people may pay a ransom.”
Data from other sources corroborates Arden’s assertion that dognapping is a growing concern. In 2008, the AKC tracked seventy-one thefts. Since then, the number has risen to more than 115. The issue has even drawn the attention of the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and various state legislatures, which have begun evaluating punishments for dognapping.
Pepper’s Law
The most famous case of dognapping in America is that of Pepper, a Dalmatian owned by Peter and Julia Lakavage. Pepper was stolen from the Lakavages in 1965 and sold to a research hospital in Bronx, New York, where her chest was cut open in a botched (and fatal) test for a new cardiac pacemaker. The Lakavages recruited then-Representative Joseph Resnick to champion Pepper’s cause, and he oversaw the passage of the most comprehensive animal-welfare legislation in history. Because of Pepper, the theft of animals is now a federal offense.
Man’s Best Friend Has Enemies
Arden’s research on dognapping tactics reveals that most thieves pretend to be prospective buyers of puppies for sale. Less sophisticated ’nappers, however, will simply grab a dog that is left unattended in a yard or park, perhaps luring it away with snacks or toys.
