A dog is man’s best friend. To discover that your precious dog has been stolen is one of the worst feelings imaginable. Deranged people steal dogs for many reasons.
One might be to get a reward, as dog owners will pay any amount of money to get their precious dogs back, or it might be to sell that dog at a much higher price on the internet because of the rarity of its breed.
Whatever be the reason, it is in your best interest to take precautions to ensure the safety of your dog.
In this article, we look at ways to keep your dog safe from being stolen.
From the data available with the Missing Pets Bureau, over 60% of the dogs once stolen are never recovered.
So,
How To Keep Your German Shepherd Safe From Being Stolen?
Microchip your dog
The best way to keep your dog safe is to micro-chip it. It is not a device which pinpoints the location of your dog at a given point in time.
When a dog is stolen, and recovered, most times it is sent off to the local animal centre, because there is no proper information available to identify the owner of the dog.
By embedding your identity on to the microchip installed in the dog, when it is recovered, the authorities at the animal centre will be able to scan the microchip and get your details to return the dog to you.
A dog can easily lose its collar, but cannot lose the microchip, and so it is the best way to ensure your dog’s safety.
Don’t leave your pet unattended
Make sure that you are aware of where your pet is at all times, and don’t leave it playing outside un-attended. Over 50% of dogs are stolen from gardens and other play areas of the homes, when they are left un-attended.
It only takes a few minutes for an enterprising thief to sneak into your home and lift your dog.
Keep your gate closed
If you’ve really got to leave your dog in your yard, make sure that your gate is properly bolted and locked, and that the gate is large enough to prevent people from breaking in to your home.
Also, don’t put up signs stating the breed of your dog on your gate (example: Warning: German Shepherd inside), which can be an engraved invitation for a thief.
Don’t tie your dog outside your establishment or a shop
More than 7% of dog thefts occur when the owner ties the dog outside a shop or a business. This is easy pickings for a thief. If you must do this, make sure you have a trustworthy person to at least have their eye on your dog, or make sure you tie your dog with a good enough chain.
Ensure that your dog wears its collar at all times
Make sure that your dog wears its collar at all times, even when it is inside your home, as this is a legal requirement as well. Refrain from putting your dog’s name on the tag, as it might be attracted to a thief who calls it by name.
