How To Spot A Stolen Dog

by **Steve** Sun Dec 16 2012, 15:19

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Spot A Stolen Dog

It’s a sad fact of life that dogs get stolen. People take them to make money from re-selling them or ransoms, using them as fighting or bait dogs (especially the bull breeds) or to use them as breeding dogs which they can then sell the pups for a big profit.

The following is a list of Do’s and Don’ts will help to not only prevent your dog being stolen, but if you are looking for a new dog it will help you learn how to spot a stolen dog.

Do's to keep your dog safe

Do - Microchip your dog
Do - Keep any KC or other registry papers locked in a safe
Do - Take regular photographs of your dog from different angles and make sure to get all the markings
Do - Ensure your house and garden are secure when you leave it and that you never leave your dog unattended in the car or outside a shop. Also be careful not to leave your dog with a small child who may not be able to stop someone taking it.
Do - If your dog does go missing follow these guidelines: https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t23652-if-your-stafford-goes-missing
Do - Neuter or spay your dog at the correct age if you do not intend to breed or show. This makes them much less desirable to thieves.

Don’ts

Don’t - Advertise the fact that you have a staffy or other breed in your home. Keep “Watch out Staffy about,” “A staffy lives here” and signs like this out of your windows.
Don’t - Let people you are buying a dog from come to your house unless they are a rescue. The only time they will need your address is to KC register (or similar) the dog in your name.
Don’t - Leave leads or collars in the garden or hanging beside doors.

How to spot a potentially stolen dog/offspring of stolen dogs

If you spot a young dog or puppy for sale and you are interested, the following steps should help to rule out whether or not it is stolen. These are guidelines only and will not give definitive answers.

First check the internet for stolen dogs who may match the description. Local FB sites, gumtree, preloved and www.doglost.co.uk are good places to start
Look out for key words in the description of the dog. Phrases like “Will make a good breeder,” “Cheap dog for quick sale,” “Is very bold and game” should ring immediate alarm bells.
Ask the owner how long they have had the dog, where they got it from, has it been to a vet within the last year and if they have proof (such as microchip papers, photographs of the dog as a puppy, vet bills for the dog)
If the dog is a puppy ask to see proof that the bitch has been well looked after and the breeding is legit, if they do not allow you to see the bitch because she is “aggressive,” “scared of strangers,” “has been rehomed” then do not buy the puppies!
If the owner of the dog doesn’t want you to come to their home to see the dog but wants to meet in a car park or similar, then do not go. Genuine sellers will allow you to come and see the dog in its home environment so you can see how it acts naturally.
If you are asked to meet at a yard where the dogs are kept, be aware that if it is in the middle of nowhere and the dogs are kept in sheds that it is not likely to be a legit breeder/seller.
Look a dog over thoroughly and if there are any tattoos or scars, ask to see papers or vet bills about them.
Use your initiative. We are very good at feeling sympathy for a dog if we feel the owner is not legit, but giving thieves money because you are afraid for the dog will only prove that they can get away with it and they will go and steal another person’s dog.

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Thank you.
Forum Administrator
Steve

A Staffy-bull-terrier Frequently Asked Questions