Dogs Disappear in Scott County
New Prague, Heidelberg, Lonsdale see pets vanish
NEW PRAGUE, Minn. - Something strange is going on in Scott County. Nearly a dozen dogs have gone missing in the last couple months. That's got pet owners in the area wondering whether someone is stealing them or if something else is going on...as reported by FOX 9 News .
It's a fact, pets are taken from parking lots to pet stores and even backyards, The American Kennel Club® (AKC) reports that dog thefts are on the rise. Thefts range from tiny puppies being stuffed into purses at pet stores to most recently, purebred pets being snatched from cars in parking lots and shelters.
I always wonder how many pets have indeed been stolen and how many just don't come back home. Pets disappear for various reasons. As a pet owner, was there anything I could have done differently to protect my four legged friend?
Scenarios:
1. I have an outside dog. I live in the country so my dog can be loose. It isn't fair to keep it kenneled or tied up. So, when I leave to go to work or shopping or to lunch, my dog may or not be there when I leave. Didn't check for sure but I know he's around. If he isn't, he'll come back. Always has. A dog will find things to keep him busy. He'll follow his nose - perhaps to a neighbors, perhaps on a scent - perhaps just wandering around. Maybe he's even found a girl friend to hang out with. Usually, he does wander back at supper time though. One day he doesn't show up. Do I wait a day or two thinking he will come home? Do I get moving and check with the neighbors? Do I contact law enforcement officials? Did someone take him?
He could have been hit by a car, caught in a live trap, shot, lost, or perhaps kept by someone who felt they could give him a better home than the one he has. That happens. Is it right - No. However owning a pet requires responsibility on my part. Is my pet being a pest - an unwanted visitor - a nuisance? Do I expect others to accept or tolerate my wayward hound?
2. I need to go to town. It won't take me long. So, I won't contain Fido as I'll be right back. I leave and Fido wanted to come along. He chases my vehicle down the road thinking he'll catch me. Naturally he doesn't. I come home - dog gone! Who's responsible -- me of course.
3. I do take Fido to town. He likes being with me and riding in the car or the bed of the pick up truck. Fido wouldn't let anyone near my vehicle even if they do try to approach. Well, Fido maybe friendlier than you think. Guess what - he isn't there when you come back.
4. I leave home and Fido is in the back or front yard. He's tied or the yard is fenced. He'll be OK. I don't get to spend as much time with him as I want. Maybe we'll go for a walk or run later. We'll get to the piles of poop soon. It's on the list. When I get home, he's gone.
Dogs aren't the only pets that disappear. Cats disappear too; however, it could be for different reasons.
5. Tiger likes to go out. You know night time is his favorite time to be outside. Letting him out sure is easier than putting up with his annoying behavior. So, once out, he prowls the neighborhood, gets into trash cans, crawls under garage doors, hangs on window screens etc. We are totally unaware of the mischief he is causing. Should others be expected to tolerate this - after all, cats will be cats?
All of the above happen. Allowing this behavior from ourselves and our pets may cause people to take matters into their own hands. Pet gone - problem solved ! There are so many reasons, in addition to actual theft, for a pet to disappear.
Suggestions to help keep your pets safe.
At Home:
*Don’t let your dog off-leash or unattended in your yard. Keeping your dog close to you reduces the likelihood it will wander off or catch the attention of thieves. Someone may take him because they feel sorry for him and may think they can give him a better home. Perhaps someone left the gate open - or opened it on purpose. They were tired of hearing your dog bark or tired of seeing it confined to a fenced area with little or no observable human contact.
*If you have an inside cat, then do not let it roam. If it likes to be outside, have a kitty proof pen where it can lounge in the grass and enjoy fresh air. However, letting it outside unsupervised, is the best recipe for a missing pet.
*Be cautious with information. If strangers approach you to admire your pet, don’t answer questions about how much the pet cost or give personal pet details.
On the Road:
*Never leave your pet in the bed of a pick up or in an unattended car, even if it’s locked. Leaving expensive items in the car such as a GPS unit or laptop will only encourage break-ins. Your pet may not have been the target but is ends up a victim.
*Don’t tie your dog outside a store.
Recovery:
*Protect your pet with microchip identification. Collars and tags can be removed so make sure you have permanent ID with a microchip. Keep contact information current with your recovery service provider. Understand how the chip works.
Tip: A collar with your phone number sewn on it along with the word "REWARD" on the collar or tag can give people more incentive to call you.
*If your pet is missing, immediately call the police / animal control/ veterinarian clinic and pet shelters in the region your pet was last seen. This isn't a one time call - keep checking. Your pet may not be there today, however will turn up tomorrow. Don't rely on others to keep tabs on your pets. Some pets can travel very far very quickly. Also, the pet could have been picked up and dumped elsewhere by a would-be thief.
*Have fliers with a recent photo ready to go if your pet goes missing. Keep a photo of your pet in your wallet or on an easily accessible web account so that you can distribute immediately. Sound silly - not if you want to get your pet back. This could make a big difference in the outcome.
*Spread the word with bus drivers, delivery people, mail carriers, school children, etc. The more eyes the better. Canvas the area and talk to people where your pet disappeared. Ask your mail carrier if he or she can take flyers to the homes they deliver mail to.
* Call radio and TV stations to ask them to run an announcement. Offering a reward often helps motivate a response.
* Post REWARD posters all over the area. They should be large, in color and with photos. Copy centers can make color copies. Make smaller copies in flyer form. Display the flyers at area businesses, libraries, the post office, banks and other popular places.
* Ask everyone you know to join in the search. Most pets who are found are found within 24 hours, so act as quickly as possible.
* Leave your fence gate open in case your dog comes home on his own.
* Don't give up. Some pets are found months later.
Yes, pets can be stolen. Why? The reasons are many. Are we being irresponsible or is it really theft? Some thieves won't cause harm to our pets. Other reasons can be more sinister... for example: being used by puppy mill breeders / being subjected to sadistic acts / becoming bait for training dogs in dog-fighting rings.
People may steal pets for economic reasons. They watch for a reward or they sell the pet. People are stealing pets to keep for themselves, not wanting to pay a purchase price or adoption fee.
Outdoor, free roaming cats, are another story. There are so many. Many are not tame enough to handle. Their caretakers do provide them with food, water and shelter; and, may even have them sterilized. There is a greater potential for the disappearance of free roaming, outdoor living cats. If we have done our part to provide them with the basics, then we have done our best.
Resources and References:
AKC (American Kennel Club) / PAWS (Partnership for Animal Welfare, Inc.)
