Protecting Your Pets From Being Stolen

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Private investigators take on many different cases throughout their career from homicides and kidnappings, infidelity, missing persons to insurance fraud. However, one very common case that doesn’t get talked about much but affects the lives of thousands of people are missing or stolen pet cases. This type of case isn’t the first thing that we think of when we picture a PI, however anyone who has a pet and loves them as a best friend or family member can attest to the importance of taking these cases seriously. A private investigator who has taken on both missing person and missing pet cases knows that the initial call for the two is nearly identical and clients who have lost their pet are completely devastated and want to do everything in their power to get them back.

Why Do Pets Get Stolen?

While nearly all pets can be the victim of theft or abduction, the most common targets are purebred dogs. There are many reasons a criminal may steal a dog: selling purebred and pedigree dogs for huge amounts, puppy mills or collecting reward money. Some dog breeds are stolen to serve as bait for training dogs in dog fighting rings or even to become fighters themselves. German Shepherds, Pit Bull Terriers and Doberman Pinschers are most commonly stolen for this reason. Some dogs are taken by people who sell animals for testing and experimentation to various research and veterinary institutions. These are the top ten most stolen dog breeds regardless of the reason for their abduction.

1.    Yorkshire Terrier

2.    Pomeranian

3.    Maltese

4.    Boston Terrier

5.    French Bulldog

6.    Chihuahua

7.    Labradoodle

8.    American Pit Bull Terrier

9.    German Shepherd

10. Labrador Retriever

Protecting Your Pets

There are many precautions you can take in order to keep your pets safe.

1. Do not let pets roam unsupervised in your neighborhood, even cats who like to explore should always be accompanied by you and both cats and dogs should always be leashed. When you’re not home, keep your pet indoors and make sure all doors and windows are secured.

2. Make sure you pet can be quickly and properly identified. They should have a collar with an ID tag, license and a way to contact you so that if they’re lost they can be easily returned to you. Microchips add another layer of security should you need to prove that your pet is yours.

3. When re-homing your pets or giving away litters, vet their new guardians. Check references, visit their home and draft a pet adoption contract. Never use “free to good home” ads and do not give the animals away from free. Even charging a symbolic fee will do help deter those who are looking for an easy way to acquire animals for nefarious purposes. If you have found a stray animal make sure that the person you’re returning them to is their rightful guardian. Even if they’re the contact number on a ‘missing pet’ poster, always ask for proof of ownership such as a license, vet records and photos of the animal.

4. Be aware of your surroundings. When out for a walk with your pet keep an eye on them at all times and pay attention to any suspicious individuals. If you notice suspicious activity in your neighborhood, inform your neighbors and report it to the police.