Pet Theft Awareness: How to Keep Your Dog Safe

Losing your pet is another kind of heartache. Sadly, over 2 million pets are stolen every year in the USA with many more unreported.

Pet protection is not something to take lightly because the dangers are continuously rising, and thieves are getting smarter. You have to ensure your pet is always safe and keep them away from risky situations no matter where you go or what your routine is. If you need some ideas to keep your pet safe, you've come to the right place!

Pet Theft Awareness Day: Feb 14

The national pet theft awareness day is observed on February 14 to educate pet owners about theft, threats, and prevention. Along with this blog, many local shelters host events to inform their community about local concerns and steps you can take to keep your pet safe.

“Flipping” Dogs and using Dogs as Fight/Bait Dogs

The biggest question pet parents ask is why would someone steal their dog? Well, money is a big reason. Pure bred dogs are especially at risk because they tend to be more expensive through a breeder.

Dog flipping is the situation when someone steals a pet and sells it. The thief will get the dog’s price without any investment, and you will be left without your beloved pet. Another reason dog theft is a constant concern is people’s interest in dog fights.

Although dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states, people still organize them for money. Having your dog fall into the hands of one of these evil persons is one of the worst thoughts. Dog fighters abuse animals to get them ready to fight other dogs, or they use them as bait dogs to take abuse from their fighting dogs.

How to Protect Your Pet?

Now that you’re aware of some of the dangers your pet can go through, it’s time to make sure this situation never happens to them. It's difficult to imagine something like this happening to you, but it only takes one instance for everything to change. The good thing is, you can prevent pet theft with a few easy steps. Here’s what you can do to protect your dog:

● Microchipping

Microchipping is a prerequisite for dog protection because dogs without any identification tag are nearly impossible to find. Whether stolen or simply ran off when the front door opened, microchipping allows you to identify your dog at a shelter or vet clinic. Therefore, as soon as you adopt a pet, get it microchipped to ensure they can be easily identified.

● GPS Collar

GPS dog collars are getting excessively popular because of their ease of use and reliability. If you often take your dog out for a walk or leave it out in the yard, having a GPS collar will ensure you can track its location. With the Fi Dogs GPS Collar, we can set our home location parameters to our yard, and we get a notification immediately when the collar leaves the property. It also has a lost dog mode that triangulates the collars live location through satellites to easily find our dog. We feel safe and comfortable knowing we can locate our pups at a moments notice.

● Do Not Tie Up Pets or Leave Outside Unattended

If you habitually leave your dog in the car, you’re putting it at risk of theft. Pet thieves won’t shy away from smashing your car windows and taking your puppy. Even if you secure your pup somewhere to run a quick errand, the chances of theft are equally high.

Therefore, it’s never a good idea to leave your dog unattended because you never know from where a dognapper is lurking. Always keep your dog on a leash in outdoor settings and never leave it unattended. If you can’t manage the dog while running errands, it’s better to leave it at home.

● Dye Their Fur

Now, this might sound new to many dog owners: if you want to identify and trace your dog quickly, dye its fur. If you dye your dog’s fur in a unique color or pattern, identifying it gets way easier, especially if we talk about common breeds. Thankfully, our dogs are all mutts and have very distinct features, but common dogs might look the same to everyday people.

You don’t have to completely change your dog’s color, instead, opt for minimal dying and make sure you pick a distinguishable pattern to give the dog a unique identity. However, make sure you pick a dog-safe fur dye that doesn’t use any unnecessary or harmful chemicals. This tiktoker dyes the tail of her service-dog, Rainbow, for that exact reason!

● Install a Pet Cam

Even if you leave your pet at home, there is still a chance someone could break into your home. Even if they are not there to take the dog, they might let the dog loose outside while going through your other belongings. Installing a security camera is helpful in these situations and can alert you if they sense movement so you can see what's going on. We use Furbo in our home! Not only does it alert you to human movement and dog movement, but it also gives you alerts if dogs are barking. Plus, you can use it to toss treats at your dog to keep them entertained while you're gone.

What to do if your pet is stolen?

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you can’t find your dog, or there are visible signs of forced entry into your home, don’t waste any time and do the following (it is important to note, if you feel unsafe or threatened at all, call the police):

● Track your dog’s GPS to find its whereabouts.

● File a missing report at police station so local shelters and other registered animal clinics can be

aware of your missing animal.

● Call the nearest animal shelter or pound to see if they have found a missing/lost dog.

● Start searching in the neighborhood because your dog might be somewhere nearby.

Losing a pet is terrifying and thankfully, we've never had the experience. If you have a pet that you love, be proactive about its safety and do what you can to safeguard it. Microchipping your dog and using GPS collars are two smart steps you can take to prevent dog thefts and other similar risks. Don’t leave your dog unattended for long, and always be attentive to your surroundings to ensure no one can steal your beloved family member.