Unfortunately, dog theft is on the rise. Part of this has to do with the fact that purebred pups are so expensive. Even mixed-breed puppies are hard to come by. I’m old enough to remember when people’s dogs would have a litter, and they’d run in ad in the local newspaper for “free puppies.” But those days appear to be long gone. Dogs have become a commodity.
Why are Dogs Stolen?
I first heard about dog snatching years ago. One of my relatives had a beautiful, placid lab puppy. He brought it to one of our family gatherings. He left carrying it to his car. That was the last we saw of that dog.
The American Kennel Club reports a 31 percent jump in dog theft over the course of one year, from 2012 to 2013. Aside from the obvious ways to prevent this from happening, which include never leaving a dog in a car unattended, even with the doors locked, the AKC recommends microchipping.
However, this form of tracking comes with health concerns. Despite the fact that this form of ID is recommended by many mainstream vets, it might not be safe. There are now isolated reports of aggressive cancers growing at the site of the implant. Although these instances are rare, at least one natural vet believes this problem is under reported.
Dog Obedience Training Book
(This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything, I receive a referral fee, at no extra cost to you.)
Dr. Karen Becker, DVM has published her views on microchipping, which appear on alternative health expert Dr. Joseph Mercola’s site. She also offers a reasonable alternative for pet owners concerned about losing an animal. She suggests tattooing your telephone number on your animal while it’s being spayed.
Of course, the risk of abduction greatly diminishes if your dog is always at your side. Dr. Becker also recommends obedience training if you have a pet with an inclination to bolt.
21 Days to Train Your Dog Book
&