As if stealing a dog wasn’t bad enough, these criminals actually look for certain breeds! According to the numbers, these are the breeds that are most targeted.
According to the American Kennel Club, dog theft is becoming an increasingly common crime. In 2007 the AKC began tracking this type of theft and, in 2013 alone, there was a 31 percent increase in the frequency of dog napping. Unfortunately, many of the dogs that are stolen do not go to new and loving homes – they’re taken for more nefarious purposes.
What Happens to Stolen Dogs?
One of the most common things that happens to stolen dogs is called “dog flipping”. This is when the thief sells the dog to an unsuspecting buyer for a sum of money. In many cases, the dogs are sold as purebreds or designer breeds, even if they are not, and the buyer has no idea that the dog was stolen from someone else. Stolen dogs are also frequently sold to research laboratories as testing subjects or they may even be sold to puppy mills and used as breeders. Certain breeds of dog may be used as bait or as fighters in dog fighting rings.
Dog napping can affect any breed, but certain breeds of dog are more popular for stealing than others. According to research, these are the top 10 most popular breeds to steal. (Photo credit: Nuvoletta/Flickr)