Dog-napping and cat-napping are not innocent terms that a person may consider them to be. These have nothing to do with the sleeping behavior of your pet; instead these terms draw our attention to a sad and reprehensible trend in pet kidnappings that seems to be growing unabated. Pets are being kidnapped more than ever before and not just exotic pets that can fetch a good price. Dogs and cats are being lifted and sold in the grey market to either unscrupulous or unsuspecting buyers.
Pets are being snatched from kids, lifted from backyards, and whisked away even as pet owners enter a shopping mall. The issue has become serious enough for state houses to mull stringent punishment for pet-nappers. The state of Texas is considering making pet kidnapping a felony and other states are trying to curb street-side pet sales as this is where stolen pets are sold most often. Often thieves may try to play on the emotional attachment a pet owner has for the animal and demand ransom, sometimes successfully.
Even if you have a fenced-in yard, it is not guarantee against thieves. Keep the pet inside instead of leaving it out for extended periods of time. If you have to keep it in the yard, keep it on leash. Do not leave your dog or cat unattended in a car when outside; it does not take long for the professional pet-napper to whisk the poor animal away. Leave the dog home when going shopping. It’s no longer safe to tie it to a post while you pick up groceries.
Get your pet RFID-tagged. This will help in identifying the animal even after it is sold unscrupulously. A dog-collar can be removed but is still better than having no identification tag. Contact the police as soon as you notice that your pet is missing. Distribute copies of your pet’s recent photo in the neighborhood, the local TV station, radio station, newspaper, etc.
As responsible pet owners we should do our best to curb and fight this menace. We should avoid buying pets from the internet unless the online breeder is willing to supply breed and pedigree certificates. Do not purchase pets from flea markets or roadside vendors.
When you purchase pet insurance, you should check if the policy is covering contingencies such as pet theft.
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