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.
Once they have the dog, thieves will usually wait for its owner to post a reward before contacting him and offering to return the pooch, perhaps under the guise that they bought the stolen dog from someone else and want compensation for the fee they paid.
Doggie Defenses
Thieves are sneaky, but vigilance on your part will protect your beloved barker.
- Never leave your dog unattended, and keep all gates and doors to your home locked.
- Always keep your dog on a leash and be aware of people watching you on walks. Stay in well-lit and well-populated areas, and keep a cell phone on you at all times for emergencies.
- Make sure your dog wears identification tags, and consider a tattoo or microchip. A microchip is a permanent form of identification, slightly larger than a grain of rice, encoded with an unalterable code that can be read with a scanner. A veterinarian places it just beneath your dog’s skin. This is one of the best ways to identify your pet and make it more likely that you’ll recover her. The AKC can provide you with information about microchips, their risks and benefits, and how to get them.
- Be aware of what’s going on in your neighborhood. Most major cities have dognapping blogs featuring the latest alerts about predators and vulnerable locations. You can find these by simply googling “dognapping” and your city’s name.
- If you’re a breeder, be cautious of home visits from potential buyers. Ask for detailed information and identification before allowing anyone inside your home, and always keep a friend or family member with you when accepting visits from prospective owners.
