April 08, 2008 02:20 PM EDT

American Kennel Club Cautions Owners: Pet Theft on the Rise
-- Dog Owners and Breeders Advised to Keep Dogs Safe at Home and on
the Road --

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Kennel Club® is warning pet
owners and breeders about an alarming rise in dog thefts in recent
months. From parking lots to pet stores and even backyards, more
dogs are disappearing. In the first three months of 2008, the AKC
has tracked more than 30 thefts from news and customer reports,
versus only ten for all twelve months of 2007.

Media reports have chronicled the escalation of these "dog-nappings"
from all around the country. Incidents have included armed robbers
entering a breeder's home, tiny puppies being stuffed into purses at
pet stores and most recently, purebred pets being snatched from cars
in parking lots and even shelters.

"The value of pets in people's lives has been on the rise for a long
time and now we are seeing thieves trying to capitalize on this.
Whether they seek to resell the dog, collect a ransom or breed the
dogs and sell their offspring, thieves seem to be attuned to the
increased financial and emotional value pets have in our lives,"
said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "Losing a treasured family pet
is devastating to the owner."

"Criminals look for weaknesses and exploit them. They know pets
can't protect themselves, so that means owners need to be alert,"
said Lt. John Kerwick, a law enforcement K-9 handler and the
President of the U.S. Police Canine Association, Region 7. "Be wary
of anyone who approaches you and asks too many questions about your
dog or where you live. This is a red flag that they may be out to
snatch your pet."

Peterson added that "These `dog-nappers' are misguided and naïve.
They're stealing living beings, not jewelry that can be pawned.
Plus, it's unlikely that they can sell the dogs for high prices
without proper registration papers, and these inept criminals are
not realistically going to collect a ransom. Caring for a dog -- and
especially breeding -- is a time consuming endeavor that requires a
lot of knowledge. Thieves will find themselves with a frightened and
confused animal that needs a lot of care."

The AKC 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 – Keeping your dog close to you reduces
the likelihood it will wander off and catch the attention of
thieves. A Saint Bernard that had wandered away from his owner in
Nebraska was snatched up right off the road.

Don't leave your dog unattended in your yard – Dogs left outdoors
when no one is home for long periods of time can be potential
targets, especially if you live in a rural area and the fenced-in
yard or dog runs are visible from the street.

Keep purchase price to yourself – If strangers approach you to
admire your dog during walks, don't answer questions about how much
the dog cost or give details about where you live.

Breeders need to be aware of home visits by potential puppy buyers –
Criminals posing as would be "puppy buyers" have visited breeder
homes to snatch dogs, while other homes have been burglarized when
the owner was away. From Yorkies in Los Angeles to Bulldogs in
Connecticut, thieves have targeted young puppies of these highly
coveted breeds.

On the Road
Never leave your dog in an unattended car, even if it's locked –
Even if you are gone for only a moment, an unlocked car is an
invitation for trouble. Also leaving expensive items in the car such
as a GPS unit or laptop will only invite thieves to break and
possibly allow the dog to escape.

Don't tie your dog 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. If you need to go shopping,
patronize only dog-friendly retailers or leave the dog at home.

Be vigilant when entering or leaving establishments or venues
catering to dogs such as grooming salons, veterinarians, doggie day
care or hotels – Be aware of your surroundings, such as slow moving
vehicles, or people watching you and your dog. Carry pepper spray as
a precaution and, if possible, don't walk alone late at night or
stay in a well lit area.

Recovery
Protect your dog 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. Several pets have been recovered because of alert people
scanning and discovering microchips. For more information and to
enroll your pet in a 24 hour recovery service visit www.akccar.org.

If you suspect your dog has been stolen – Immediately call the
police / animal control in the area your pet was last seen.

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

The American Kennel Club, founded in 1884, is a not-for-profit
organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs
in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United
States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its
registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type
and function. Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs
and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred
dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being,
works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes
responsible dog ownership. More than 20,000 competitions for AKC-
registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations
each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally,
tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests,
field and earthdog trials. Affiliate AKC organizations include the
AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion Animal
Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit
www.akc.org.

Contacts
American Kennel Club
Daisy Okas, 212-696-8343