It often starts with individuals walking around private gardens and attempting to get closer to animals by feeding them. And it seems that dogs are most often targeted.
No surprise given the price of our four-legged friends. According to our colleagues from RTL 5minutes, prices vary between €500 and €5,000 for certain breeds, and even more for others. A golden retriever, worth €1,800, can thereby turn out to be a real magnet for thieves.
Criminals are becoming more and more cunning and well-informed. Younger dogs are more interesting because most of them have not yet been neutered or sterilised, which means that there is a higher chance of reselling them to breeders.
For some time now, reports of dog thefts on social media have increased both in France and in Belgium.
A survey published in French newspaper Le Figaro in June 2021 traced the increase of dog thefts, noting that 150 cases occurred in 2019 compared to 90 in 2018. The number of thefts in France is currently estimated at around 75,000 dogs per year.
However, these statistics are difficult to quantify, points out a spokeswoman for the Brigade of Animal Protection (BPA), an association made up of volunteer police officers and gendarmes: “There are no concrete figures to prove it, but it has been a disaster for several months.”
At times, criminals resort to brutal practices to achieve their goals. “Thieves no longer hesitate to cut leashes in the streets, invade gardens, or break into houses. Bounties are even issued for dogs spotted in advance”, the BPA spokeswoman explained. According to her, “thefts go hand in hand with animal abuse”, one of the primary crimes that the association is fighting.
Given that some animals are sold at astronomical prices of up to or exceeding €10,000, dog theft has therefore become a lucrative practice.
A disappeared dog can usually mean two things: either the canine has taken off voluntarily to explore the neighbourhood, or someone has abducted them.
Regardless of cause, people are advised to immediately contact the office in charge in their country: PetAlert in Luxembourg, I-CAD in France, and DogID in Belgium. Owners can then also file a complaint with local police.
It is also useful to distribute images of the dog, either physically or digitally on social networks. Nowadays, 80% of pet sales are made on the internet, so it is important to keep an eye on online ads. Some owners have already been surprised to find their stolen companion listed online.
A few things can and should be done to lower the risk of theft. It is absolutely necessary to have your dog identified (chipped), which is even mandatory in many countries. This chip functions like an identity card and can help a vet find the owner of an animal.
It is also advised to never leave a dog alone outside. Although a video surveillance system may help deter thieves, it is no guarantee. If you let your dog off the leash, make sure that it stays in sight.
Another vital piece of advice is to never leave a dog in the car or outside a shop for that matter. Finally, one should be careful if a stranger asks persistent questions about a dog’s age, breed, price, sex, whether it is neutered or not, and whether they are allowed to feed it. These questions may very well be preparation for an eventual abduction.
