Dognapping On the Rise—Protect Your Pet

How do you report abuse of pets & remain anonymous esp.when the abuse is so blatent & pervasive in your community? Please reach out via news, TV, internet, radio & all forms of media during the entire summer to encourage pet owners to create a safe, cool, clean living space for pets because many homeowners are tying their dogs up on a short chain in 90-110 degree sun ALL DAY 24/7 for long perious w/NO food&water or leaving pets in the dark hot garages ALL DAY/night where temps climb over 100 degrees in Georgia. We see it all the time & reporting does nothing to Animal Control or Human Society does not improve the living condition of the pet. People just get more stubborn & learn how to hide the abuse or neglect better. Some leave pets in the bathroom shot up all day or steaming hot dark garages crying & howling throughout the entire neighborhood. This is so true for 3529 Lake Forge Dr.,Fairburn Ga 30213 & Shertall Rd.Autumn Lakes Subdivision where a young male dog owner keeps 3-4Pomeranians in the garage all day while he works 12-14 hr.days.Poms hate heat or at 160 Bowhead Ct.,Fairburn,GA 30213 dogs trapped in hot garage or tied up in 95 degree sun all day on short chain w/No water&food 6-8 hrs/day or three houses@3579 Bowhead Ct.,Fairburn,Ga 30213 where 8 huge pit bull dogs kept in hot garages/crated all day. People see abuse & neglect of pets all day every day but even when reported not much is done to protect pets living conditions in the long run. People get pets to make money breeding or as toys for kids but have no real love to make the pet's living space comfortable, safe or clean.

How do you report abuse of pets & remain anonymous esp.when the abuse is so blatent & pervasive in your community? Please reach out via news, TV, internet, radio & all forms of media during the entire summer to encourage pet owners to create a safe, cool, clean living space for pets because many homeowners are tying their dogs up on a short chain in 90-110 degree sun ALL DAY 24/7 for long perious w/NO food&water or leaving pets in the dark hot garages ALL DAY/night where temps climb over 100 degrees in Georgia. We see it all the time & reporting does nothing to Animal Control or Human Society does not improve the living condition of the pet. People just get more stubborn & learn how to hide the abuse or neglect better. Some leave pets in the bathroom shot up all day or steaming hot dark garages crying & howling throughout the entire neighborhood. This is so true for 3529 Lake Forge Dr.,Fairburn Ga 30213 & Shertall Rd.Autumn Lakes Subdivision where a young male dog owner keeps 3-4Pomeranians in the garage all day while he works 12-14 hr.days.Poms hate heat or at 160 Bowhead Ct.,Fairburn,GA 30213 dogs trapped in hot garage or tied up in 95 degree sun all day on short chain w/No water&food 6-8 hrs/day or three houses@3579 Bowhead Ct.,Fairburn,Ga 30213 where 8 huge pit bull dogs kept in hot garages/crated all day. People see abuse & neglect of pets all day every day but even when reported not much is done to protect pets living conditions in the long run. People get pets to make money breeding or as toys for kids but have no real love to make the pet's living space comfortable, safe or clean.

I am wondering what people do with the dogs that they steal? Is it mainly purebreds so they can sell them - is there really a market for that? Or they are just too cute they want to keep them? I just always wonder this as I can't imagine what the purpose is of stealing a dog?

I leave my dog in the vehicle on hot days in a safe area for under 10 min, BUT I carry two keys to my vehicle, leave one in the ignition and lock the doors with the other. Sadie isn't to friendly to strangers so stealing her isn't really a concern to me. I am looking into putting a hotdog k9 car controller in. It alerts you when the interior gets to hot and will automatically engage a fan, roll down the windows, or even pop a door open, used mostly by law enforcement, who BTW all leave their dogs in the car

Just a note to the woman who thinks it's judgemental of some of the posters to object to leaving dogs in cars - people don't understand that dogs to not have a way to dissipate heat in the same way humans do, and cars become very hot even if it's only 75 degrees outside and the windows are cracked. The SPCA says to never leave your pet in the car. Never. Cracked windows do not work. Please, protect your beloved pets, educate yourselves about this issue. They may miss you if you leave, but they'll suffer horribly in a car if left alone, and could die a terrible death.

This information would be far more useful if the pet theft data was broken down by geographic area, such as by state, or metropolitan statistical area (even better).

I adopted a 6 yr. old female Pomeranian from the Humane Society that was rescued from a puppy mill in Kansas. I had her for a little over a year. She was just getting used to human touch, learning that not all humans are bad. She was starting to adjust after a year of being in a home, and in the blink of an eye, she was gone. I let her out with another one of my dogs, I turned my back for 5 minutes to tend to another dog in the house and when I went out back for her, she was gone. I ran frantically through the neighborhood and couldn't find her anywhere. The other dog that she went out with returned, sadly Roxy did not. I put up flyers and classified ads with no results. I miss her everday and will always blame my self for not keeping a better eye on her.

comes to this, if the dog is not in destress mind you own business!! if you want to make a change about ppl leaving animals in vehicles, then have the local law change that ppl can take their pet into the store with them.

I travel a lot with my pet dogs and cats during summer and fall. the best thing I've ever done is make sure whatever car I'm in has a remote start feature that allows the car to run with AC on. usually will run for 15 minutes. if I need more time then I go and restart car. not the most "green". but it keeps everyone safe in the locked car where it's nice and cool.

I have long carried the fear of home invasion by those seeking to steal my precious dogs. To hear that this type of theft is on such a rise scares me more than ever. I have a 12 yr old Boston Terrier and a 9 yr old Shih-Tzu, that people often mistake as a puppy because she is so small. Both dogs have age related issues, especially Mickey (BT) who suffered from Vestibular Disease, Horner's Syndrome, and pancreatitis within a 4 month period. Miraculosuly, after a few months you see no signs of his having been so ill, except some residual hearing and sight loss. However, he has such sensitivity to food that if he were given anything besides his carefully-monitored diet, he could contract diarrhea very quickly and die in the hands of strangers. He's been prone to HGE all his life (Hemorrhagic GastroEnteritis). So all that said, I'm more worried hearing these increasing theft stats. :(

I will bet the ASPCA spreads this story around because they don't want people to leave their pets in the car for fear of some tragic outcome for the dog. We left our pet in our car once and a lady came up to us and tried to convince us our dog would be stolen. While I appreciate the good intentions of trying to protect pets, it is very irksome for others to assume they know what is best for you and your pet at all times and try to make you conform to their wishes. I love my dogs and would never do anything to harm them. I have paid over $12,000 on vet bills for one of my pets born with a patent ductus issue. To assume I would leave my pet in a too hot car and forget about him is annoying to say the least. I just can't believe someone would pay hundreds of dollars for an adult dog stolen when they could get one for nearly free from a shelter. Now, kidnapping could be another matter.

I have two dogs. The only they're with me is when I take them out to do their business. At no time do I leave them unattended, nor do I run errands with them in tow, unless I have my sister with me, who would hold them and keep an eye on them. It is irresponsible to leave a dog unattended and never run errands with your dog in tow.

Yes please, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PET UNATTENDED!!! see them as children and think for them. Would you leave your child in the car or outside the house by them selves? I HOPE NOT especially the way things are now in this world. see them as children and think for them.

I hate to be the bearer of even worse news regarding stolen pets but the dogs are also taken not to re-sell or the ransom but as live dogs to be used as a dummy for training dogs to fight each other in a ring. I was given this information "right from the horses mouth" That image of torture is almost too much for me to think about, needless to say my guys are not even left in my yard without me watching them. My dogs are small maybe a big dog is not quite as vulnerable.

When I started looking for a dog, I contacted several rescues. I wanted a sheltie or sheltie mix. I was turned down by the nearest sheltie rescue group because I did not have a large backyard. Another rescue had a cute sheltie mix available, but it was seven hours away and I could not get off work to go that weekend. So, I bought a sheltie from a woman with a nice litter. She owned the mother and the grandmother; they were lovely, intelligent dogs. The puppy I got was the last one of the litter; he was very shy. He is now four, and still very reserved, but we have earned obedience and Rally titles and he is famous around here for all of his tricks. He goes to work with me, we take long walks and do plenty of training. The sheltie rescue, however, did not think I would provide a good enough home. I realize that I could have gotten a dog from animal control, but in our area, all that is available is pit bulls, chihuahuas, and maybe a few others. (I am not exaggerating.) There is nothing wrong with these dogs, but it was not what I wanted. There are many different breeds for a reason. To say that NO ONE should breed is saying that all the different, specific breeds should become extinct. That would be a shame.

I am appalled to hear some people's comments about leaving your dog(s) in cars. I would NEVER leave my dogs in the car on a hot day, but I see no problem with it if the outside temperature is sufficiently cool (less than 50 degrees) and if it were only for about 10-15 minutes. I live in New England for heaven's sake! My dogs are not going to die of heat stroke in the winter here! That said, my car is also dog proofed (seat covers, nothing lying around except for dog toys). I also have an alarm on my car to deter any potential thieves. My dogs love riding in the car, and if it is not going to hurt them, then why not?

Isn't it all just about common sense, and good stewardship? Just use common sense.

The public needs to understand that dog nappers are selling them to buyers for apx 20.00. The are then sold to underground organizations that sell them to labs for medical research. They are also sold to demons who fight Pit Bulls. They are used as "bait dogs". In a nutshell they are used to teach a Pit Bull to kill. Pit Bulls are not normally "killers" they have been taught to kill. All Pit Bulls now have a bad rap. Unless you can keep your dog with you constantly never, never leave them in a car or tied up anywhere.

I can understand everyone's point of view in regard to leaving your pet in the car while you run errands. I would feel like my world came crashing down if my dog ever got stolen but on the other hand, my dog is in the car before anyone else when he hears those keys jingle. He already gets his daily "stay" we we go off to work. I feel great when I can actually have him come for the ride. It is a double egded sword for sure.

Many years ago, I was given my first dog. We so inseparable that I took her with me wherever I went. I had no idea of how cruel this world is to animals and was completely ignorant of what often happens to them. It was only in l970 when I first became involved in animal welfare and dedicated my life to help animals that I learned very quickly. Once I knew of the dangers, I realized it was better to leave them home safe than to subject them to tortures in a research lab or used in dog fighting, etc. My dog's welfare and health was more important than the temporary companionship.

I know the feeling , someone let my 3 dogs out of the fenced in yard , the 2 big dogs came home but my little pug was missing , after 4 days of riding around and calling places and posting a reward , three guys are in my drive way when my husband comes home for lunch ( I was out of town) THEY HAD MY DOG AND WANTED MORE MONEY than my husband had offered , said she should be worth more , they had a rope around her neck and she had rope burns from them pulling on her, needless to say after my husband said he would call the cops if they did not give her back and take what he did offer. she was starved and acted like they had not given her water, she hid in the house for several days , who knows what they did to her , when I got home I took her to the vet. to check her out and see about the place on her stomach, well now we find out she has stage 2 cancer, she is 10 yrs old, he said maybe 6 months maybe 2 yrs , we just have to wait and see. how anyone can be mean and cruel to a dog or any animal I do not know. I now have locks on the gate , hopefully they will be safe

I leave my dogs in the car when the temperature is 70 and below for going to pasy for gas & running into convenient store for drinks-that's it and I feel sorry for anyone stupid enough to try to put their hand inside the window without my permission!!