Dognapping and Dog Theft - Should You Be Concerned

Dognapping and Dog Theft - Should You Be Concerned

Background
Dognapping has been going on since the 1930's with a number of high profile cases recorded in the USA, including the dognap of the Yale university mascot by Harvard students in 1934, and a number of demands for ransom for pedigree dogs from high profile owners. The number of recorded cases over time has been low however. Of more concern to dog owners today is the fact that there have been a number of recent recorded cases in the UK, where dogs have been handed over for cash after becoming "lost", with the cash payment presented as a "reward" for return of the dog. These sort of events are attracting media attention, and there is concern from some quarters that this media exposure will actually increase the number of incidents by drawing the attention of criminals to a new way to make money. Of additional concern are published statistics which have dubious provenance - and this data is often published by those who have a vested interest - insurance companies for example. So what are the facts?

Dog crime
There is no nationally compiled register of dog related crime in the UK. There are no national statistics for dog or pet crime. There are however claims by some insurance companies that dog theft is the "nations fastest growing crime" and that Dognapping has increased by 141% in the last year. As a dog owner, one might be naturally be concerned.

Although there are no national statistics one may get a feel for the scale of the issue by looking at the statistics where they are available. Pet Plan, a leading pet insurance company asserts that claims for stolen dogs remain static at around 250 per annum. Police statistics for London reveal that approx 360 dogs per year are reported stolen each year. Hardly a national crime wave.

Sensible precautions
Although the issue of dog crime appears to have been sensationalised somewhat, its best to take reasonable precautions to protect your dog;

o Have your dog chipped, a transponder the size of a grain of rice, can be inserted under your dogs skin, at modest cost. With the use of a reading device the chip will give a unique number, which will uniquely identify your dog.
o Consider an ear tattoo, which has the advantage of being visible, and will therefore deter thieves.
o Ensure your dog wears a collar with up to date identification.
o Secure your property - if your dog spends time in your garden unsupervised, make sure that it cannot escape, and that gates are secured by a lock.
o When walking your dog off the leash, ensure you keep it in sight at all times.
o Vary your dog walking routes

A little forethought and care will pay dividends when it come to keeping your favourite friend safe and secure - at home.