Would your canine walker take a bullet to guard your canines? None of us ever wish to assume that we or our canine walkers may very well be put in that place however that’s precisely what occurred with Lady Gaga’s canine walker.
Lady Gaga’s canine walker, Ryan Fisher who’s an in depth household buddy was strolling the canines when a number of individuals received out of a automotive and commenced attacking him. In footage shared by CNN and different information shops, Fisher may be heard preventing again and attempting to maintain Lady Gaga’s French Bulldogs from the dognappers when he was shot within the chest. Two of the canines have been stolen whereas a 3rd Miss Asia was discovered by Lady Gaga’s bodyguard.
Thankfully, Fisher survived the assault and is predicted to get better and the canines, Gustav and Koji have been recovered.
As a canine guardian, one in every of my worst nightmares is dognapping and I’m obsessive concerning the security of my very own canine, however I nonetheless fear. How do you stop dognapping? What are you able to do in case your canine is stolen and how are you going to get a stolen canine again? Are sure breeds or sorts of canines extra prone to be dognapped than others? Here’s what canine mother and father have to find out about dognapping.
Is dognapping frequent?
The story of Lady Gaga’s canines being stolen is very scary and sadly, it’s not as unusual as you may assume. Earlier this yr a San Francisco lady was robbed at gunpoint and her French Bulldog pet was taken from her.
An estimated two million pets are stolen yearly within the United States. And it’s believed that incidences of dognapping are rising as a consequence of elevated demand for canines and puppies, in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Kennel Club, which tracks situations of canine theft from their National Pet Theft Database, has discovered a 31 p.c improve in dognappings lately, with newly stolen canines reported day by day from communities throughout the nation.
Dognappings have elevated 31% lately. Photography by Pedro Vidal / Shutterstock.
Why do dognappings occur?
Dognappings occur for a lot of causes and canines could change palms a number of instances after being stolen, which makes them even more durable to find. Thieves typically steal canines hoping to generate profits off of them. This could be somebody trying to accumulate a reward, or one thing much more sinister.
Intact canines (canines that aren’t spayed or neutered) could also be offered to pet mills or yard breeders, small canines or canines of well-liked, costly breeds could be taken and resold, or canines could also be offered to canine preventing rings both as fighters or bait canines.
According to Pet FBI, a number of the high small canines focused for money embrace purebred Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians, Maltese and Chihuahuas, whereas Pit Bulls, Boston Terriers, German Shepherd Dogs and Boxers fall sufferer to theft for dogfighting rings. For the previous few years NYC has seen an increase in dognappings of small canines in return for money. This is typically known as “canine flipping” the place individuals will take, and even reply to misplaced canine adverts after which resell these canines for a revenue. If your canine is ever stolen contact regulation enforcement in your native space instantly.
How can you retain your canine protected?
Never go away your canine unattended in public locations or in your yard. Unattended canines are straightforward targets for dognappers. Don’t go away your canine unattended in public. If you might be operating errands that aren’t dog-friendly, go away your canine at dwelling.
Be proactive about dognapping. Hopefully, your canine by no means goes lacking, however you’ll have to show he belongs to you if he does. Microchip your canine, and be sure that your contact info is updated along with your microchip firm. Thieves may take away a collar and tags, however microchips are everlasting types of identification on your canine.
Hire professionals in relation to pet-care suppliers. While we are able to solely hope that our canine walkers and canine sitters can be as protecting as Gaga’s and actually take a bullet to guard our canines, realistically crucial factor is to make sure that we rent expert and skilled professionals. In latest years, there have been a number of high-profile circumstances of canines going lacking whereas within the care of canine sitters — and by no means being seen once more. Only rent accountable, insured and trusted pet-care suppliers and all the time examine references earlier than hiring a walker, daycare or sitter.
Use warning with overly curious strangers. Be very guarded along with your canine’s info. Sometimes, dognappers will attempt to decide how a lot a canine is price, and in the event that they’re spayed or neutered earlier than taking them. Deflect and keep away from answering detailed questions from strangers — significantly about how a lot your canine value.
What to do if somebody steals your canine
Get assist. Immediately name the police and your native animal management division. File a police report.
Talk to everybody. Try to seek out any witnesses who might need seen the dognapping happen. This will show you how to and the police get details about who has or had your canine. Distribute present, clear images of your canine immediately.
Research and use each out there useful resource. Search out native misplaced and located teams on-line and on Facebook. Other useful websites embrace:
Contact the media. Social media websites like Facebook are instrumental in spreading the phrase about misplaced or stolen canines. Don’t overlook to contact your native media — newspapers, TV and radio — to attempt to improve protection of your canine’s disappearance.
Protect your self, too. People whose canines are lacking are susceptible to being taken benefit of even additional. I can’t even think about how determined I’d be if one thing occurred to one in every of my canines — I’d wish to do all the pieces and something in my energy to get them again.
The Better Business Bureau warns pet house owners to be careful for rip-off artists who demand reward cash earlier than they return the lacking canine.
For instance, somebody calling to say they’re a long-haul truck driver who discovered your canine out of state and requesting cash to get your canine again to your state, or somebody saying they want cash for airline tickets and a crate to ship your misplaced canine again.
Featured Image: Getty Images
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