There are usually two reasons why dogs are stolen. They are stolen for monetary gain or to be used in illegal animal fights. It’s important that you are aware that this can and does happen more than you would expect.  To protect your pet, all you need to do is use a little common sense. Never let your pet wander freely without supervision. Never go into a store or restaurant and leave your pet tied to a post or tree outside. I’m sure you’ve seen this frequently especially if you live in an urban area. Secure your yard with the proper fencing.  Make sure that your pet is wearing identification tags. Consider getting your dog micro chipped. This is a procedure where a small chip in injected into your pet. It contains all of the necessary information for tracking his owner. It’s painless and can be done anytime by your vet.  Keep updated pictures of your pet on hand. Make sure the pictures contain any special markings on your dog. Finally, some pet insurance plans offer assistance if your dog is lost or stolen.

Remember, your pets count!