It is estimated that more than 2 million pets go missing each year. Yet, unlike missing children, of which more than 96 percent are recovered, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, national pet organizations have estimated that fewer than 10 percent of pets are found.
In fact, the National Lost & Found Pet Database claims the recovery rates decrease drastically when pets are not located within the first seven days.
Animals are being kidnapped at a startling rate throughout the country creating a pet theft epidemic where dogs are stolen and sold to the highest-paying client "“ often the research industry. This multi-billion dollar industry has many types of thieves who want to steal pets, so if you're out for a walk, at the dog park or even in your own backyard, it is important to keep your dog safe.
Here are some precautions to heed so that your pet doesn't end up a statistic:
HOARDERS "“ multiple animals kept in cramped and dirty environments
Hoarders are considered by many to be mentally ill rather than criminally intended. Animal hoarders possess large numbers of animals, but fail to provide them with even the most basic care. Hoarders are distinct from animal rescuers, who may also possess a large number of animals at any given time. Most rescuers keep diligent records, seek veterinary care for sick/injured animals and make every effort to reunite "stray" or "lost" animals with their original owners before attempting to place the animals in new homes.
Hoarders typically "collect" animals, akin to some psychological disorders, and may feel compelled to take an animal regardless of whether or not the animal is owned. Many hoarders exist undiscovered until local authorities are called upon by neighbors complaining of excessive animal noise and odor. When authorities uncover animal hoarding, animal care and control officers often seize the hoarder's animals and route them to public and private shelters for temporary housing. These animals may be too sick or too long neglected to be candidates for adoption and are often euthanized.
Only those cases involving animals with severe injuries or illnesses are typically brought to trial, which allows many hoarders to go unprosecuted. Yet even with prosecution, hoarding recidivism rates nationwide are near 100 percent. Therefore, whether convicted or not, many hoarders simply move to another town and begin collecting animals again.
DOG FIGHTING"”animals used to train fighting dogs
Dogs may be stolen for use as "bait" in dog fighting circles. The "Dogfighting Fact Sheet" produced by The Humane Society of the United States explains that dog fighting trainers use "bait" animals to test a dog's fighting instinct. The "bait" animals come from several sources, including wild/feral animals, animals obtained from a shelter or "free to a good home" ads, and in some cases, stolen pets. For practical reasons"”and because they pose little risk for damage to the fighter dog"”small dogs are more likely to be stolen for bait than large dogs. Still, National Geographic News reports that even large dogs may be used as "bait" by wrapping their snouts with duct tape to prevent them from injuring the dogs in training. While dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states, dog fighters continue to operate undetected in both inner city and rural environments. If a dog is taken for dog fighting purposes, that dog will likely be mauled or killed in the training process.
RESALE MARKETS "“ retails stores and breeders
Even if a dog were stolen for resale, there is little guarantee the animal would receive proper care and treatment. Only a slight majority of the states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws which establish some form of humane care standards for animals sold in a retail environment, according to the group Born Free USA and the Animal Protection Institute. The groups also report that little"”if any"”screening is done to discern the purpose for which such dogs are being purchased.
Unaltered animals, especially pure-bred animals, may be sold to backyard breeders or for use in puppy mills.
CLASS B DEALERS"”federally regulated random source animal dealers
Worse yet, a dog may be taken by a "buncher," or a person collecting animals (often illegally) for a Class B Dealer. If so, this dog may be headed for use in experimental research at an unscrupulous laboratory. Class B Dealers, otherwise known as "random source" animal dealers, are licensed by the USDA to sell animals they did not raise. Class B Dealers may purchase animals from shelters and/or members of the public, and then resell these animals to research facilities. Operating for-profit, unethical Class B Dealers have been caught housing hundreds of animals in squalid conditions while providing the animals with little food or water before selling them to laboratories at a price of $200 - $800 each.
Perhaps the most infamous and ruthless Class B Dealer was Chester C. (C.C.) Baird of Martin Creek Kennels in Arkansas. Baird was featured in the 2006 HBO documentary, "Dealing Dogs," which exposed the inhumane conditions at Martin Creek Kennels.
Baird forced the dogs to suffer horrible conditions, which often lead to their deaths, while waiting to be sold to research facilities. In what represented the largest civil penalty ever paid for violations of the Animal Welfare Act, Baird and his wife were assessed a $250,000 fine with an additional civil penalty of $12,700 for Baird's personal actions. The USDA also revoked the Class B Dealer licenses of the entire Baird family (C.C., Jeanette, Patsy and Patricia). The surviving animals were removed from Baird's property. See In re Chester C. Baird, AWA 04- 0013, Consent Decision dated January 28, 2005.
Most research facilities will require documentation pertaining to an animal's origin, especially when purchasing from Class B Dealers. However, forgery and/or other methods to hide an animal's true origin are possible where the animal's identification has been removed or destroyed by a "buncher." For this reason, federal legislation was proposed to amend the Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C. § § 2131 et. seq.- 110th Congress, 1st Session, S. 714 (IS); H.R. 1280 (IH)), sought to make the purchase of dogs and cats illegal from anyone who had not personally bred and raised the animals. The Pet Act's proposed language still allowed research facilities to purchase animals, including dogs, from breeders and/or animal shelters participating in pound seizure. In 2007, the Pet Act passed in both the House and Senate as Amendments in their respective Farm Bills, but the Pet Act was excluded from the Bill's final version.
POUND SEIZURE - the sale of shelter animals to research facilities
If a dog is transferred to the city pound, the dog will likely be examined by a veterinarian and tested for adoptability. However, if there is no room on the adoption room floor for the animal and a research facility wants to purchase the dog for use in experimentation, not even the Pet Act can protect the animal.
When a Class B Dealer purchases pets from the pound, or when a research facility makes such a request, it is called Pound Seizure. If a shelter or pound is located in a state, county or municipality with "pound-seizure laws," animals not claimed by their owners or adopted into new homes within a certain number of days are required by law to be turned over - on demand by a research facility - for use in experimentation. While pound seizure is a less common practice, it is hotly contested within the animal experimentation industry and has been debated by advocates representing both sides.
PREVENTION
As your dog's owner, the best way to combat pet theft is prevention.
"¢ Never leave your dog unattended. Your dog is in greatest danger when left alone in a place where he/she can be taken. In many jurisdictions, this practice is also illegal.
"¢ Padlock your fenced yard. This measure places an extra burden on a thief who might otherwise walk into your yard and off with your dog. And even at home, be sure to and keep your dog out of view of passersby.
"¢ Do not include your dog's name on his nametag. Your dog may be more inclined to leave with a thief who calls him/her by name.
"¢ Microchip and tattoo your dog. While dogs are often required to wear rabies and license/registration tags, these tags can be easily removed by a pet thief. A microchip, being approximately the same size as a grain of rice, can be injected just beneath your dog's skin and is thereby invisible to a prospective thief. A scanning device may then be used to check your dog electronic identification information. While procedures and requirements for microchip scanning vary among state and local governments, many shelters have adopted procedures for scanning animals prior to transfer or euthanasia. For those institutions not equipped with the proper scanning technology, a tattoo including your personal identification information, and/or your dog's purebred registration numbers (if applicable), can be placed inside his/her thigh or on his/her belly. Like the microchip, a tattoo is a permanent form of identification. Reputable medical research labs fear the repercussions associated with pet theft and will likely refuse to accept animals with registered tattoos and microchips.
"¢ Register your information. Unregistered microchips and tattoos will be useless to authorities attempting to reunite you with your dog.
"¢ Spay and/or neuter your dog. Not only are mandatory spay/neuter ordinances becoming the law in many cities and counties but also spaying/neutering your pet eliminates the resale value of your dog to an illegal breeder. Depending upon their experimental needs, medical research labs may be less likely to accept animals that have been altered.
"¢ Keep tabs on your community. If you suspect that an animal hoarder or dog fighter lives in your area, inform your neighbors and the authorities. If such persons are found, seek the assistance of local no-kill shelters for rehabilitation and re-homing of the animal victims.
While you may not be able to prevent unscrupulous individuals from stealing animals, you can take steps to protect your own dog.
For more information: Anna Morrison-Ricordati AMR Law Group, LLC 30 South Wacker Drive, # 2200 Chicago, Illinois 60606 (312) 466-7660
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www.animalwelfareattorney.com
