THEFT OF YOUR COCKER SPANIEL

From parking lots to pet stores and even backyards, 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. CSRNE offers the following advice to prevent your “best friend” from being a target of a crime:

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 and catch the attention of thieves. A Cocker Spaniel that had wandered away from his owner in Nebraska was snatched up right off the road.
   

• Breeders need to be aware of home visits by potential puppy buyers.  From Cocker Spaniels in Boston to Bulldogs in Connecticut, thieves posing as would be “puppy buyers” have visited breeder homes to snatch dogs, while other homes have been burglarized when the owner was away.

On the Road

• Never leave your Cocker Spaniels in an unattended car, even if it’s locked.
   

• Don’t tie your Cocker Spaniel outside a store. This popular practice among city dwelling dog owners can be a recipe for disaster. Reports have surfaced of such thefts in Manhattan.
   

• Be vigilant. Always remain aware of your surroundings when entering or leaving any dog-friendly establishments.

Recovery

• Protect your Cocker Spaniel 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. For more information and to enroll your pet in a 24 hour recovery service visit http://www.akccar.org/.
   

• If you suspect your Cocker Spaniel has been stolen. Immediately call the police / animal control and pet shelters in the area your pet was last seen.
   

• Have fliers with a recent photo ready to go if your Cocker Spaniel goes missing. Keep a photo of your dog in your wallet or on an easily accessible web account so that you can distribute it immediately if your pet goes missing.