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The Most Stolen Dog Breeds
Thieves steal roughly 2 million dogs every year in the United States. In case you’re not near a calculator, that’s about 2,740 dogs PER DAY!
Think yours is safe? Think again!
If you’ve ever gone through the trauma of losing a pet or having one stolen, you know it leaves you with immense emotional harm and some pet parents claim the theft triggered PTSD.
My aim is to warn you of the most frequently stolen dogs in 2023 but please be aware that all dogs are vulnerable, regardless of breed.
In a matter of seconds, you too can become the victim of a criminal who sees your dog as a quick and easy way to make a buck.
Which dogs are most frequently stolen?
- Pitbulls and Pitbull mixes
- Yorkshire terriers
- Chihuahuas
- French Bulldogs
- Pomeranians
- Shihtzus
- German shepherds
The motivations behind dog theft vary, with most thieves stealing dogs for financial gain. Stolen purebred dogs and designer breeds are sold for half the original price. But, when you’re talking about a puppy that costs $1000 to $3000, half is still good money.
If your pet isn’t spayed or neutered, she or he may be stolen and sold for a high price to a breeder or a puppy mill.
Some pet thefts are also emotionally driven — stolen as an act of revenge or by a former romantic partner who believes the animal is rightfully theirs.
Dog-flipping schemes are common as well. A person may steal a purebred puppy or claim to be a lost puppy’s owner. Then they quickly sell the dog online for a profit.
Unfortunately some stolen pets are sold to laboratories, universities and other research institutions for use in experiments. There are actually “Class B dealers” licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that may legally collect dogs and cats from “random sources” and sell them for research use. According to the Humane Society of the United States, “Unfortunately, some stolen or lost pets get caught up in the mix.”
Just as bad to think about, other dogs, particularly German shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, and Pit Bulls, may be stolen and used as “bait” dogs in dog-fighting rings (cats too).
How to Protect Your Fur Baby From Dog Theft
There are preventive measures you can take to protect your dog from dog theft and ways to prepare if the horror happens.
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Avoid leaving your pet unattended — A dog left alone outside, even in a fenced-in backyard, is a prime target for thieves. A fenced yard with a locked gate may deter some thieves, but not all (especially if you regularly leave your dog alone for long periods).
Be sure you keep an eye on your pet at all times and avoid letting him wander off-leash to areas where you can’t keep see him. Don’t ever leave him tied up in front of stores or restaurants. And be aware that thieves have been known to break car windows to steal valuable pets.
Secure fences. Installing high, secure, dog-proof fencing can reduce your risk of a dog-napping taking place in your own backyard, and keeps your dog safely contained too!
Spay and neuter. Pet owners who spay/neuter their pets and keep them indoors have a lower risk of theft. This is because some pet thieves seek out to steal intact dogs for breeding purposes.
Security cameras. Consider investing in security cameras if your dog spends a lot of time outside unattended. Ring doorbells are another tool which may capture identifying information of a dog napper if they enter the premises.
Tattoos. Some owners may opt to get a small tattoo somewhere on their dog’s underbelly to better identify them. This is as a more visually-noticeable alternative to a microchip.
GPS Tracking. GPS tracking collars are useful when your dog is outside in the yard or at a busy dog park where it’s easy to lose sight of him.
Microchipping. This involves inserting a small electronic chip under the dog’s skin, which contains the owner’s contact information. If the dog is lost or stolen and is found by a shelter or veterinarian, they can scan the chip and contact the owner.
It’s important to note that microchips are NOT pet trackers — your pet cannot be located via microchip. Someone must scan the microchip to access the data, and contact the owner with the data obtained from the microchip. This is why you should contact local veterinarian offices — if they’re on the lookout, they are more likely to double check microchip data of new pets entering their system.
What to Do If Your Dog is Stolen
There are a number of steps you can take to increase your chances of finding them:
- Report the theft to the police as soon as possible. Provide them with as much information as you can, such as a description of your dog, the location of the theft, and any identifying marks or tags.
- Notify your local Animal Control officer. If your dog is microchipped, you can ask to have the serial number and your dog’s description added to the “stolen article” category on the National Crime Information Center.
- Check security cameras. If you have a Ring doorbell or other type of security camera, check recordings to see if you can catch the pet-napper on camera. Ask neighbors to check their footage as well. Dog thieves will often case a home before a theft, checking for cameras and trying to assess when your dog is outside alone, so if a theft happens, you’ll want to look as weeks of past footage as well and notify the police if you find someone suspicious.
- Reach out to local animal shelters and rescue organizations to let them know your dog is missing. Provide them with a recent photo of your dog and your contact information.
- Notify local veterinarian clinics. It can be helpful to alert veterinarian clinics when your pet has been stolen, as vet staff can be encouraged to take careful notice of any new dog that comes into their clinic matching the stolen dog’s description. Even if the dog thief doesn’t take the stolen dog to the vet, the new owner likely will visit a vet’s office to get a check-up and initial exam.
- Create flyers with a clear photo of your dog and your contact information. Post them around your neighborhood and in local pet stores, vet clinics, and other places that dog lovers may frequent. Also post information on your community’s social media page.
- Share information about your missing dog on social media platforms. Posting news of your missing pet to local groups on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram (and encouraging others to share the post) can put your community on the look-out for your dog.
- Look around your neighborhood and nearby parks immediately after the theft if possible. The dognapper may still have him nearby. Ask neighbors if they’ve seen anything suspicious or if they have any information that could help you find your dog.
- Keep tabs on Craigslist dogs for-sale.
Dog-nappers are eager to off-load your dog ASAP, and many use Craigslist to sell them. - Also check Craigslist Lost Dogs. I once found a cat we’d lost during our vacation 300 miles from home through Craigslist, so don’t dismiss it, but be very careful of callers.
- Consider hiring a pet detective. They are professional investigators who specialize in finding missing pets. They have a variety of methods to track down stolen dogs — such as surveillance, scent tracking, and social media analysis.
- Another option is to contact your local TV station, radio station and newspaper and ask them to report your lost pet online. State that a reward is offered for your pet’s return (but don’t say how much).
Hopefully, you will never need to use these suggestions, but if the unthinkable happens, you will at least be prepared.
REMEMBER: QUICK action may save the life of your pet. Post your pet’s info on websites such as FidoFinder; PawBoost; LostDogsofAmerica and Pet FBI are just a few.
