Although an ongoing problem, dog theft reports are on the increase. The thought of losing a pet is heart-breaking at the best of times, but to have them stolen must be pure torment not knowing what has happened to them.
There are some things you can do to reduce the chance of your dog being stolen. Below are some tips to keep you and your dogs safe.
Keep your dog visible at all times
Make sure you can see your dog at all times. When you are out in public make sure you know where they are, and don’t risk lead free time if your dog can’t be trusted.
Ensure your garden is secure
Only leave your dog in your garden if it is secure. It’s worth checking fences for gaps and getting gates put in to keep your dog enclosed. You don’t want them to be able to escape, or anyone to get into your garden easily.
Never leave dogs in the car
Despite this being a health risk to your dog when it is warmer weather, if you leave your dog in your car with the windows down then they are an easy target to thieves. It would only take a few seconds to steal your dog
Don’t leave your dog outside shops etc
It is a common sight to see a dog tied up outside shops/Post Offices etc whilst owners go in to grab some shopping etc. Try to avoid taking your dog if you know you need to pop into a shop, as thieves would view this as an easy opportunity to steal your dog whilst you are out of sight.
Report any incidents
If you see any suspicious behaviour or people come up to you and start asking strange questions about your dog, report it. You never know, you may prevent an incident from happening by doing so!
Use caution with strangers
Be wary of anyone who comes to your front door, or admires your dog in the park. Beware of distraction techniques used by those looking to steal dogs – maybe asking to hold your dog, or take photos with them.
Identification
Ensure your dog has a collar with an ID tag on it. Put your surname and phone number. Get your dog microchipped and state on their tag that they are microchipped.
Do thorough checks before employing a dog walker/pet sitter
Always do a background check on any potential pet sitters. At Scamps and Champs, we do thorough checks of anyone joining our team, including a police check and a reference check. As a profession company, we invite clients to ask about our rigorous checks for team members, be wary of sitters/walkers who shy away from checks/documentation.
Fit Alarms/Bells
Consider getting alarms installed or bells fitted to your garden gates so that they will alert you to any intruders. This might also deter any potential dog thieves.
Stay alert everyone and keep your fur babies safe.