Disturbing Crime On The Rise

Lock your gates and hold on to those leashes, a new crime is on the rise: Pet theft.  These offenders often known as “Bunchers”, “Dogknappers” or “Dog Gangs” are not being affected by any downward economy.  In fact, it’s estimated that around 2 million companion animals are being stolen every year, increasing around 30% a year according to the AKC, with only about 10% of these thefts being reported.  This includes dogs, cats, and also pigs. 
Why is this knew “industry” growing and becoming increasingly popular?  The main reason: A quick way to make a buck!  It is imperative that communities be educated about this breed of criminals. 
I have been in the pet industry for over 15 years and even I wondered why this was happening.  Working on many lost dog cases over the past few years, I’ve gained extensive knowledge on the behavior of lost dogs and how to bring them home.  Just a couple of months ago I learned that people will steal your dog!  They will take them for many reasons and no dog is exempt.  If you think your dog is safe because he is not “pedigree” or he is elderly or too small, you are wrong.  Theifs have many different reasons for stealing your pet.  One reason is Puppy mills are buying them for breeding.  Other reasons for pet theft include selling them to research laboratories, organizers of dog fights or families looking to buy cheaper than what a breeder charges.  They are also being sold as religious sacrifices. 
Dognappers are selling dogs, cats and other smaller animals to be used as bait to train dogs to fight.  They can be used as lures for these dogs to attack.  All sizes, breeds and genders are game.  Small dogs are easily thrown into a dog fighting ring while larger dogs can be used to boost the confidence of the dog being trained to fight.  Pets are also being held for ransom and held onto until there is a sizable reward for the “missing pet”.  In England, a dog owner remortgaged her house to offer £10,000 (or close to $20,000) for clues leading to the return of her beloved dog.
Pet owners need to become aware of this practice and how to protect their pets.  Social media has become a great tool for finding your lost pet but is also used by these criminals to acquire them.  “Bunchers” search the internet for ads displaying “free dog (or cat) to good home”.  Owners giving their pets away for free can be sending them to a harsh death. 
Advertisements are not the only way these thieves operate.  They are bold enough to take your dog directly from the end of his leash!  Owners need to be aware of this and not let just anyone bend down to your dogs level for a pet.  Children should also not be allowed to hold the leash and in charge of any dog.  Never leave your dog out in the yard, even if it is fenced.  A thief will not hesitate to grab your dog and it only takes a moment.  Electric fences tend to give people a false sense of security.  Anyone can still come onto your property with an electric fence.  Physical fences should be built so they can not easily be jumped over and gates need to be locked.  There is also no safety in tying your dog to a tree. 
Many people make the mistake of tying their dog up outside a shop while they “run in for a second”.  That’s all it takes anyone to grab your dog.  As this practice becomes increasingly popular, thieves have perfected their act.  They will take a single dog or bunch of dogs at once. 
Owners can protect their pets and their community’s pets by being vigilant of their surroundings, never leaving them unattended, educating others to this crime and microchipping their pet.  Tags and collars can be taken off. 
What can you do if your dog goes missing?  The most important thing is to create awareness of your missing pet and start immediately after you’ve noticed your pet missing.  Do not wait around and assume your dog will come wondering back home.  Even pets who wonder the neighborhood and know it well can get spooked into running.  A spooked dog can run many miles within the first hour of being missing.  Inform all your neighbors and contact as many people as you can to help you create awareness. 
Use social media; start a facebook page.  Pages such as “Bring Andy Home”, “Find Jake in Redding” and “Find Austin” are just a few examples of groups created on Facebook here in CT.  The advantages of these groups are vast.  The groups are easily shared with thousands of people, it’s a great way to create awareness.  The groups become a place to go for information on the case such as recent sightings, recruiting volunteers, sharing fliers, showing support and sharing stories and suggestions. 
In my experience, most communities rally together in efforts to find the missing pet.  Many people have similar stories of their own pet going missing.  Your goal is for people to already be aware of the missing pet before you inform them. 
One recent case I was working on taught me to not rule out dognapping.  The case of “Austin” in Brookfield changed the way I analyze missing dog cases as foul play is suspected…