MySetterSam: The Ruff Report: Dogs and Safety

Protect your pet from theft and torture

They are out there lurking, waiting for you to leave your dog or cat pet unguarded in your yard or at the park so they can steal your companion and make a few bucks by selling it to a research laboratory for experimentation.These thieves steal nearly 2 million dogs and cats nationwide each year, leaving their owners emotionally devastated and sentencing their pets to a life of pain and torture, animal welfare officials warn.

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"It is a tragedy that any pet owner should have to suffer the heartbreak of a stolen pet," Sheena Stewart, an official at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, told My Setter Sam.Animal welfare advocates are urging pet parents to take actions - like obtaining identification tags and microchips - to enhance the safety of their pets.

Anne Hicks, spokeswoman for Central Bark Doggy Day Care, which has locations in seven states, tells My Setter Sam that most people fail to realize the seriousness of the problem. "Keep a safety net around your dog just like you would would a child," she advises.

Pet parents need to be careful with their pets, Hicks said. "I think people take for granted that their dogs are always going to be there. Tying a dog to a lamppost while you go in to get a latte is not a good idea."

Lost dogs are susceptible to being sold to laboratories for research, Hicks warns. "There are a lot of dogs used in not-so-kind manners. ...Not everyone in the world is going to take it to a shelter."

Last Chance for Animals, an animal welfare organization in Los Angeles which specializes in pet theft prevention, advises the following to protect pets:

Spay and neuter pets. This reduces an animal’s desire to stray and reduces the risk of it being stolen for breeding purposes.

Put collars, identification tags and licenses on your pet. Speak with a veterinarian about backup forms of identifications such as a tattoo or microchip.

Never leave companion animals unattended in your yard or visible form the street. It only takes a minute for someone to steal a pet.

Never leave a dog tied up outside restaurants or stores, and never leave a pet unattended in a car even for "just for a minute."

Never use "free to good home" ads to place companion animals. These ads are often answered by dealers who sell the animal to research labs. Contact a rescue group for assistance in conducting your own adoption.