«It happens again and again that a dog is tied up in front of a shop and the owner only goes into the shop to get a sandwich. But stealing a dog only takes a few seconds. Small dogs in particular are quickly tucked under the arm and carried away, even if they react shyly or timidly to strangers.”
Puppies, pedigree dogs and small dogs are particularly at risk of being stolen. But also large pedigree dogs such as Labradors or Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds or Huskies are victims of thieves again and again. “In principle, every dog is at risk. Of course, particularly friendly, trusting dogs are easy prey. Purebred dogs are sought after because they can be resold for a profit; intact, non-castrated animals are stolen for reproduction,» says Karina Omelyanovskaya and calls on dog owners to be vigilant: «Regardless of whether it is big or small – every dog can be stolen. We therefore advise against tying up your dog in front of a shop, doctor’s office or bank, even if you can see the animal through a window.”
Not only potential theft poses a risk if you leave your dog tied up unattended. There can always be situations where the dog will wriggle out of its collar or harness and perhaps run into the street or get lost in an unfamiliar environment.
advises: If you have to run errands and are traveling alone, you should leave your dog at home when in doubt. “It is quite possible that dogs are also stolen from the car. Especially now in summer you shouldn’t leave your four-legged friend in the car anyway. Even a few minutes in an overheated car can be life-threatening for dogs. With a bit of training, most four-legged friends can be left alone for up to four hours, so they can wait for their people safely and securely in their familiar surroundings,” recommends Karina Omelyanovskaya.
Label, register – find again!
A microchip doesn’t protect against theft, but it does increase the chances of finding your beloved dog if it ever goes missing. “Every dog owner should have their dog tagged in a veterinary practice and register the chip number in a pet database such as TASSO eV. Some missing dogs sometimes turn up in completely foreign regions or end up in an animal shelter. Once the animal has been chipped and registered, you can quickly find out where the dog came from.”
The international animal protection foundation calls on the federal government to introduce mandatory identification and registration for all dogs and cats and to anchor them in the Animal Welfare Act. Through this measure, animals can be assigned to their rightful owners at any time.
You can find more information about pets and the work of here here.
You can find out more about the illegal puppy trade here.