While many are celebrating Valentine’s Day, we are talking about Pet Theft Awareness Day. As much as abandoned pets are our focus, ensuring the safety & welfare of all pets is very important to us. Dogs are more commonly stolen than other pets so we want to give you some tips to help you keep your dog safe from thieves.
Stolen to order
Be careful who can see your pet’s photos on social media. Pets, especially entire males, unspayed females and popular breeds, can be stolen to order so keep your location details private when posting photos of your pet.
Thieves stealing to order are likely to track your routine to find the best time to steal your pet; change your routine regularly. Walk your dog in different locations, go shopping at different times and days, don’t make it easy for them to work out where you will be or when.
Opportunist pet theft
Don’t leave your dog outside a shop or supermarket, even if they are tied to something. It is very easy for an opportunist to unhook your dog and walk off with it without rousing any suspicion.
Be vigilant
Where possible, don’t let your dog out of sight during exercise times. This is often not easy, depending on your location and your dog, but be vigilant and try to keep them in sight as much as possible.
Ensure your garden, house and outside kennels are secure. Add locks to gates, motion sensitive lighting is a good option and think about CCTV depending on your situation.
Microchip your pets
One of the most effective ways to ensure your stolen (or lost) pet is returned to you is to have them microchipped. Along with being a legal requirement chipping your pet means that, lost or stolen, if they are taken to a vet they will know who they are and who they belong to. According to the American Kennel Club, chipped pets are twenty times more likely to be reunited with their owners.
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