According to the police in London, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is the most stolen dog in the area. To prevent the theft of your dog, there are things you can do to keep your furry friend safe.
After sharing the news about how many dogs, and which breed of dogs are the most popular for thieves to take in London, BBC news has some tips for us on how to protect our dogs from theft. Some of these suggestions are just general safety tips that we should all follow anyway. And yes, some of them revolve around what we are posting to our social media.
In general, these tips don’t just apply to theft and the possibility of a dog being stolen. Instead, these are general safety tips that are great even if your dog got lost or ran away.
So what are the tips that they have for us to keep our pets safe and prevent the theft of our beloved pet?
Some safety tips to help prevent the theft of a beloved pet
- Microchipping your dog is a great way to protect them in the long run. Most animals are scanned for a chip when they are brought in to a vet or if they are picked up by the Humane Society. And if your pet is microchipped, it is possible that they will find their way home to you.
- your dog should have a collar that features a tag with your name and a way to contact you. While collars can be removed, they can also be a deterrent to a thief.
- This might seem very easy for many of us, but one tip they have is to take lots of pictures of your dog from various angles. And if they have distinguishing markings or features, make sure you have pictures of that. This will help if your dog is taken to identify them as yours.
- Social media may be a fun way to share our lives with others, but it can also be a great way to give thieves information that we don’t want them to have. Be careful about what you share on social media. Don’t make it easy for a thief to find you, or give them details about when you’re not home.
- Be mindful of where you take your dog for a walk. And remember, if you are posting about your walks to social media that actually gives thieves the idea of where to find you and your dog.
- If you use a dog walking service, a grooming service, or a doggy daycare, make sure you are checking references. Who are you trusting your dog with? Can they be trusted? Those are questions that you should have answered before leaving your dog in someone else’s care.
When it comes to the safety of your dog, what are you doing? How are you protecting your dog from being stolen or even getting loose?