The thought of a family pet being stolen is almost unimaginable, but it happens all too frequently. With pet theft consistently on the rise, dog owners need to be cautious with their four-legged friends. The American Kennel Club offers the following tips to help dog owners keep their pups safe.
– Keep your dog close. Keep your dog on-leash and close to you during walks. That will reduce the likelihood of him wandering off and catching unwanted attention from potential thieves.
– Never leave your dog unattended. Leaving your dog alone in your car or yard, especially if he’s visible from the street, makes him an easy target. It’s much safer to supervise your dog.
– Don’t give out too much information about your dog. Be careful with how much information you give if strangers approach you to admire your dog when you’re out on walks. Don’t reveal how much your dog cost or details about where you live.
– Don’t tie your dog outside a store. Leaving your dog tied outside of a store is a recipe for heartbreak. Go to dog-friendly stores or leave your dog at home if you need to go shopping.
– Protect your dog with microchip identification. Collars and tags can be removed, so your safest bet is to have permanent ID with a microchip. Keep contact information current with your microchip recovery service provider so you can always be found should your dog be recovered. To enroll your pet in a 24-hour recovery service, visit www.akcreunite.org.
For more tips on dog ownership, visit the AKC at www.akc.org.
via Protect your pet from theft | McClatchy Tribune News Service | The Bellingham Herald.
