How can I help prevent my dog from being stolen?
There are many ways to help reduce the likelihood or desirability of your pet being stolen. Firstly, it is a legal requirement that all dogs are microchipped before they leave the breeder, therefore any puppies or dogs brought or adopted must be implanted with a microchip by law, this came into force in April 2016. Ensure all microchip details remain up to date and ask for it to be checked every time your dog visits the vet to enable us to make sure it is in the right location and is working. If you have rehomed a pet from a centre or bought a puppy ensure you have contacted the microchip database to change the details.
Neutering your pet also will reduce the likelihood of roaming behaviours. More importantly, it will make them less attractive to pet thieves as they will not be able to use them as breeding animals. Dogs that are often not able to be used for breeding by pet thieves will often be sold on.
As much as we love social media, and displaying our pets, this is a perfect platform for dog thieves to search for desirable breeds and find out where they are located. Therefore, if possible do not advertise your pets and your whereabouts on the internet.
Although it may seem like common sense, it is easy to see why thefts from garden and property are high. We often allow our pets to roam the garden/premises freely without adequate monitoring. To combat this, make sure any entrances are locked appropriately and that any kennels or pens are not visible from public walkways and the street.
What do I do if my dog has been stolen?
If you believe your dog to be stolen please follow these guidelines below to ensure all avenues are covered.
> Report the loss to your local council’s animal warden.
> Report to the police and ask for a crime reference number. If the theft is in progress call 999, and if the theft has happened call 101.
> Report loss or theft to the microchip database.
> Register on missing pet websites (doglost.co.uk).
> Use social media (in this instance social media is good for making the dog ‘too hot to handle’).
> Make sure local vets are aware in case the thief attempts to take it in for treatment etc.
> Visit parks, public places with flyers. Word of mouth is a great way of spreading news about an incident.
> Contact local charities and rescue centres in case your pet is abandoned.
