Dognapping On the Rise - Protect Your Pet

Pet theft is on the rise. The American Kennel Club, which has been tracking pet thefts since 2007, reported a 32% increase in dog thefts last year.

While some animals are snatched from their yards or during home invasions, opportunistic thieves most commonly steal dogs left in cars or tied up outside stores. In the ASPCA’s hometown of New York City, dognappings skyrocket every summer as pet parents take advantage of nice weather to combine dog-walking with errand-running.

Protect Your Pet

Avoid becoming a victim of this heartbreaking crime!

When running errands around town, visit pet-friendly establishments or please leave your dog at home.

Keep a close eye on your pet in designated off-leash areas, where he could become a target for criminals looking to make a quick buck. (Pet thieves often try to resell—or even hold for ransom—stolen dogs.)

Avoid leaving your pet unattended in the front yard, especially if your lawn is exposed or accessible.

The same rules apply for leaving your pet tied up outside a store. In addition to being vulnerable to theft and teasing, your dog might escape or get injured.

Microchip your pet! Microchipping can often mean the difference between temporary and permanent separation from your furry loved one.

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Have You Ever Lost a Pet? Then You Know The Stress of Looking for Them: Download and Place This Door Hanger with Your Pet's Picture on All Neighbors' Doors

If you have ever lost a pet, you know the stress of trying to make up posters. I am sharing a handy template, from the Seattle Animal Shelter.

Place these door hangers with your pet's picture on all of your neighbors' doors.

Search your neighborhood. Talk with neighbors, local veterinarians, delivery drivers and postal carriers. Don't forget about newspaper deliverers that work early in the morning.

Printout Here:
To open Pdf download, click here: Lost Pet Door Hanger

This is what the door hanger looks like:

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Many Strays Are Lost Pets Who Were Not Kept Properly Indoors or Provided with Identification

“Many strays are lost pets who were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.”

We hope it never happens to you, but every year, many dogs get away from even the most attentive and loving owners. Prevention is key to avoiding this heartbreaking scenario. Read on to learn the most common reasons dogs run away, and how to keep your own beloved pet safe.




Easy Dog Escape Routes

Not every dog is a runner, but genetically, our four-legged friends are built to roam. According to veterinarian Sharon Crowell-Davis of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia,  “As a species, the majority of dogs are curious and want to be active and explore and discover” (source). And a too-low fence, broken gate, or open window makes it especially easy for a curious dog to set off exploring.

“As a species, the majority of dogs are curious and want to be active and explore and discover.”

Of course, on a lovely spring day, it’s nice to fling open the windows and doors and let in the cross-breeze. Just make sure those windows have secure screens or security bars, and put up a baby gate or barrier to keep your dog from springing out the open door.

It’s also a good idea to supervise your dog in the yard, and periodically check the fence for holes or weak spots.


On the Chase

Some dogs could care less about running after potential prey, but if your dog likes to chase, it’s important to take extra precautions to keep him safe. No matter how diligent we are as owners, a prey drive is hardwired, so prevention and appropriate tools can go a long way to keeping your dog by your side (and keeping smaller neighborhood mammals safe).





Nature Call

Reproductive drive is a powerful thing, and intact male dogs especially are driven to roam in search of a mate. Even the most sensible, well-trained dog can be overwhelmed by, ahem, natural urges. If the neighbor’s un-spayed Lady is hanging out on the sidewalk, and your un-neutered Tramp catches a whiff, the urge to mate could lead them straight through the fence and down the road together in search of conjugal bliss.

Of course, supervision and secure fencing can prevent a runaway hound. But the easiest “fix” of all is to have your dog spayed or neutered ASAP! According to the Dumb Friends League, “Studies show that neutering will decrease sexual roaming in about 90 percent of the cases.” Once your dog’s hormones chill out, they’ll be far less likely to go chasing neighborhood tail.

“Studies show that neutering will decrease sexual roaming in about 90 percent of the cases.”

The timeline for having your dog fixed is somewhat flexible; most vets agree that dogs can be spayed or neutered as early as eight weeks, but some recommend waiting until a dog is six months or older to allow for full development. Learn more here, and if you make the decision to hold off on having your puppy fixed, you’ll want to be extra-careful about letting them roam unsupervised.

Boredom

It’s not just nature that calls dogs out of the yard; some hit the road out of sheer boredom. You can help calm your dog’s exploratory instincts by providing “the three E’s”:

Exercise. At least one good walk during the day (the duration and intensity of a “good walk” will vary depending on your dog’s age and activity level) can help calm your dog and set them up to relax while you’re out of the house.

Enrichment. Give your dog’s brain a workout with puzzle toys and games.
Entertainment. A lonely dog is more likely to become bored and seek greener pastures. Keep your dog active and engaged with lots of socialization. For some dogs, this may simply mean spending some quality couch time together at the end of the day. If you have a higher-energy pup, consider doggy playdates or trips to the park to burn off the blahs.

A note of caution about yard time: of course, a yard can be a great tool for exercising, enriching, and entertaining your dog! Just remember to limit yard time to when you’re home and can supervise your dog (and double-check those gate latches).


Scary Sights and Sounds

According to a report released by PetAmberAlert.com, “animal control officials across the country see a 30-60% increase in lost pets each year between July 4th and 6th.”

The main culprit? Fireworks!

Loud noises, bright lights, and big crowds can frighten even the happiest dog. Of course, you should go ahead and celebrate holidays with family and friends. But for your dog’s safety, consider keeping them securely indoors at home while the party rages elsewhere.

Scary sounds and sights aren’t limited to holidays. Thunder, gunfire, and car accidents can all send a scared dog running. If your dog spooks easily, there are several simple things you can do to keep them secure throughout the year:

When outdoors, secure your dog with a well-fitted collar and leash (you may even want to use a back-up collar or harness if you anticipate being in an environment with potential fear triggers). Scared dogs can back out of loose collars, which explains why so many strays are found without collars.

Work on recall training every chance you get! A panicked dog may not respond to her name, but the more you can make her recall reaction instinctual, the easier it will be to call her back.

Create a “safe space” or den for your dog at home (a crate or room with a closing door is perfect). Keep your dog indoors during thunderstorms and loud celebrations, and be sure doors and windows are secure and locked.

Try a ThunderShirt or other calming device to help soothe your dog in stressful times.

As curious as dogs can be, they’re also social animals who love to stick by their people. With a little foresight and prevention, you can keep your dog safe at home.

If the unimaginable happens and your dog does run away, don’t panic. As the ASPCA notes, over 500,000 lost dogs are reunited with their families each year. Keep your dog’s ID tags and microchip information up-to-date, and consider investing in new technology to track missing pets.

A little preparation can go a long way towards a happy ending for you and your four-legged best friend.

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Five Things To Do If You Have Lost Your Dog

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Watch Out for Lost Pet Scams

Losing a pet is a devastating experience. Many reports have been received about scammers who are defrauding heartbroken pet owners in order to line their own pockets and we advise pet owners who have issued an amber alert to be wary of the following pet scams:

“Scammers play on your emotions”, said Mechele Agbayani Mills, President and CEO of BBB. “Pet owners who have lost their animals are easy targets for those whose sole intent is to make a quick buck.”

The Pay-Me-First Scam: The lost pet owner receives a phone call from a person claiming that they have the lost pet in their possession. This person asks that the reward money be sent to them before they return the pet. If the pet owner refuses, they will often threaten to hurt the pet in order to pressure the pet owner into sending money. Once the scammer receives the money, they are never heard from again.

The Truck Driver Scam: Someone claiming to be a long-haul truck driver tells you that he came across your pet while on his route. He then asks you to send him money so that he can send your pet back to you, or he may ask you to wire him money to board your pet until he can send your pet back with another truck driver who’s heading your way.

The Tag Team Scam: You receive a call from someone who says that they think they have your pet. After talking to you for a while and getting information about your pet, they apologize and say that they’re sorry, but it turns out that it’s not your pet after all. They then give all the information about your pet to a partner. This is a set-up — in a short time, the scammer uses the information received about your pet only to have a second person call and claim to have found your pet who will try collect any reward money in advance..

The Airline Ticket Scam: Someone calls and claims that your pet somehow ended up in another state. They ask you to send money for a kennel and an airline ticket in order for them to ship your pet back to you. Once the pet owner sends the money, the scammer walks away with it, leaving the owner without their pet and with less money in their bank account.

BBB provides the following tips to keep from falling victim to a pet loss scam:

1. If you must place an ad, include only essential information. Refrain from providing information about unique markings or physical attributes.

2. If you get a call from someone who claims to be out-of-state, ask them for a phone number where you can call them back.

3. If a caller claims to have your pet in their possession, ask them to describe something about the pet that wouldn’t be visible in pictures which may have been posted.

4. Never wire money to anyone you don’t know.

Many pet owners have also had their pets microchipped, as this preventive measure has proven to be effective in bringing lost pets home.

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