...[snip]... ...[snip]... Full article and photographs here... http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/527985/Dognapping-pet-theft
Very frightening. And for some reason a lot of people have the idea that Chihuahuas are always worth thousands of pounds, so no wonder they are often the target of dog thieves. Mine have got identity discs with our full address on (well not Chico's, because the full address wouldn't fit on his!) but it's occurred to me that if someone stops to make a fuss of them, they can easily see where we live. I might have a think about that.
I'm very conscious I've got two expensive dogs playing my garden and even though the driveway gates are padlocked, when they're outside I check on them every 10 to 15 minutes. We have casual labourers working in the village and I don't trust any of them, and I have one neighbour I'm very suspicious of because within minutes of anything new being delivered to my house, she'll be round asking how much it cost! It was the first question she asked me when I had Gwylim so I told her he'd been given to me, which is a lie, but no way was I going to tell how much I'd paid for him, especially as it was nearly as much as her husband's annual income. Mine are always kept on their leads whilst we're out, not only because I don't want them running off but also I like to know exactly where they are, so if anyone tried to steal them them, they'd have to contend with me first! .
Have security camera's at the house, that cover the back yard. Though I've yet to have anyone brave enough to try to steal anything out the sheds, or Mouse. Might have something to do with him not allowing people in his yard when me and the wife are not in it, But then at 11 months tomorrow and 150 to 160lbs of guardian puppy, he can kind of enforce it.
All my 6 have been tattooed wear collars with tags & are chipped. One of my neighbours had their Akita & Malamute stolen from their house, when they were at work, neither were chipped & they have now lost all hope in getting them back.
The MC is not’ proof of ownership, so even if they were chipped it doesn’t guarantee they would be returned, even if the dog is located, if the person has bought it in good faith, one could have a legal battle on their hands to get it returned. Also the Database Companies under the Data Protection Act cannot pass on details of the person who now has the dog ( to original owners)should they choose not to. According to Trevor Cooper, if there is a dispute over ownership the person with the best chance is the one that can show SEVERAL bits of information that shows the dog has lived with them for a long time, such as being registered with a local vet, training club, photos of the dog over a period of time being available etc. Though id assume that's going to prove a bit more difficult when it is a puppy that has been stolen, and the 'new owners' have had the dog in their possession for a long time. I am against ‘Compulsory’ Microchipping for these and other reasons, and feel that its all a big con .
@GsdSlave you talking UK or US? I know Ohio has had a pretty high return rate. They will return the dog and the person returned from has to go after who they bought it from. There was a person sentence to 5 years for stealing 4 cane corso puppies.
I'd have no trouble proving ownership of my dogs as both of them are microchipped and the chip numbers are on their pet passports as well as on their breeder's and vet's records. Also when the breeder registered their pedigrees with the MEO (Hungarian Kennel Club) and the FCI, my name and address was given as their owner. So providing I don't lose, or have the documents stolen I have adequate proof of ownership.
Not that anyone would want to steal a mutt like Pereg, but her microchip is registered with the Ministry of Agriculture [I think that is the one] under my ID number, and both her chip number and my ID number are registered with the Local Authority Vet who chipped her [who does the registrations] and also with my own Vet. Her chip number is also registered by Vadim, the LA Vet, when he comes to give her her yearly rabies shot - also with the MoA and also under my ID number, the rabies shot and registration counting as a yearly licence. In addition I have third party insurance for her under my household contents insurance and that, of course, also has my ID number on it [everything does] so in the event of anything happening she can be traced straight back to me through her chip If I move I have to inform the Ministry of the Interior so that my ID number is registered at the new address, which means that her chip number would also be registered at the new address.
. UK ! Here the police categorize such crimes as ‘property theft. If caught they usually get cautions, fines or community service, There has been petitions for tougher sentencing of dog thieves but to no avail. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyl...a-surge-of-dog-thefts-across-the-country.html (Quote most of the thefts go unrecorded because officers investigate reports of stolen dogs only if there is evidence of a crime. “One of the difficulties in addressing the problem is that police are generally reluctant to even give a crime number unless the owner can prove the dog isn’t simply missing. Identification! It doesn’t matter how much identification a dog is wearing, (if genuinely lost and lucky enough to be handed in and scanned then yes it would help, ) but if stolen the thieves will remove ‘collars & Tags., as far as i am aware ( UK )the KC papers don’t hold any clout - even if it was proven by DNA testing the dog was the genuine descendant of its KC listed parents on the papers held by the (first) owner, it still doesn't mitigate the fact the later owner bought a dog in good faith, with KC papers and a chip. I don’t know about other countries but in the UK the Microchip does NOT prove ownership. Is compulsory microchipping now proof of ownership / keepership? No - microchipping has never been proof of 'ownership'. Even when microchipping becomes compulsory in 2016 this will still be the case. The words 'owner' and 'ownership' have been replaced by the words 'keeper' and 'keepership' for this very reason. Will compulsory microchipping mean legal 'Keeper / Ownership'? The words 'legally responsible' are used if your dog strays, bites or causes any unjust damage - as the keeper of the dog you are 'liable' for the dog that is registered to you. As the 'keeper' therefore you will be held responsible if your dog has been found to commit such an act, however the 'keeper' will be protected from prosecution if their dog attacks a burglar or trespasser on their land. http://www.petlog.org.uk/pet-owners/compulsory-microchipping-faqs-for-pet-owners/
I do understand what your saying Vee as we have had dogs in that have 2 or more chips in them, these dogs had either been stolen or escaped from their owners & then they been picked up by dog wardens scan quickly didn't pick up chip, so sent them on to rescue home who if they did scan for chips use to scan back of neck mainly no where else & because the chips was never found {had moved from back of neck to under their tummies, in armpits of front paws} the dogs was put up for adoption, when the dog left rescue home they got re-chipped. when we have had dogs in that been re-chipped 2 or more times, we have to let the courts decide who should have the dog back, one of our dogs with 2 chips in the courts decided that she must go back to her 2nd owner leaving her first owners devastated. [1st owner had the dog for 3 years, 2nd owner only for 16 months, but the judge said she goes back to her 2nd owners] Off Topic slightly Channel 5 documentary "what's point of micro-chipping our dogs" this was a very good programme as it shown undercover people working in some well known rescue homes, it shown that not every rescue home was checking for chips, {RSPCA being the worst for not checking for chips} some rescue homes were only checking every 5th dogs others only Staffies, it shown a lovely Yorkie being picked up & being scared it was baring his teeth so was never scanned, [undercover person scanned dog when no one was about & contacted owners] So here in England even if you do have your dog chipped there is still no guarantee that you will get her/him back.
