Stolen dog: how to react and find your dog?
Did someone just steal your dog? Don't despair, several actions are effective in finding a stolen dog, but you have to act quickly! Don't let yourself be overwhelmed by emotion and quickly activate all these actions.
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With the increase in dog thefts in France and around the world, I decided to write a 100% practical article on the subject because you need to react quickly if it happens to you. Almost every day I see a post about a stolen dog… it’s appalling! I imagine the distress and terrible anguish of the master and even of the dog who finds himself far from home and who does not understand what is happening to him! I hope this never happens to us but it's better to be safe than sorry!
I never tied Musher up in front of the stores while I was shopping. She's too friendly and could go with anyone! From the moment someone has something edible in their hands, they become the king of the world! So even if it's for 2 minutes, either she comes home with me (yes yes, many businesses accept dogs when you ask them politely 😉), or she stays in the car or at home. That way, there's no risk of someone stealing my dog!
Stolen dog: I-CAD and complaint
The actions to take for a stolen dog are almost the same as for a lost dog. After warning theI-Cad of the theft of your dog thanks to its registration number, you will however need to complaint contact the gendarmerie or police station in the town where your dog was stolen.
Before you go there, it is important to collect as much information as possible about the circumstances of the theft : the precise location, the time, the appearance of the suspect, the type of car used and its registration… Ask for as much testimony as possible from the people present at the time of the theft and remember to keep their contact details to contact them if necessary. The smallest detail can prove valuable in finding a stolen dog.
You can make a pre-complaint online on the government website. After that, you still have to file a material complaint in a law enforcement infrastructure.
Finding a stolen dog: actions to take every day
Following your pre-complaint or complaint, the same procedure as for a lost dog must be carried out. It is described in detail in our article on the subject.
To summarize it:
- establish a search scope ;
- call all veterinarians, shelters, pounds, police and gendarmes from the sector to warn them;
- mass distribute your ad on social networks and the Filalapat application to relay the message to as many people as possible. Put one clear photo of your dog and your up-to-date contact details.
Urban artist look daily on private sales sites in France and neighboring countries. You can also set alerts. Stolen dogs are sometimes sold very quickly. On the other hand, they are generally several hours away because thieves cover their tracks.
2-3 little tips to prevent your dog from being stolen:
- never leave your dog loose in a park or other place outside of your supervision, this is generally where thieves attack
- do not leave your dog tied up in public spaces unsupervised, in front of a store for example: he is too vulnerable for a thief
- always keep an eye on your dog even in your garden... even if the space is enclosed, it is not complicated to catch a dog by the collar over a wall and throw it into a van...
Stolen dog: watch out for scammers!
One person's misfortune is another's happiness, as they say... and unfortunately, some scammers will not hesitate to take advantage of your misfortune, your great distress and suffering to take advantage of the situation!
Stay extremely vigilant against people who claim to have found your dog. Some scammers may ask you for a ransom, or warn you that the dog is injured or even dying, and that you need to advance emergency veterinary expenses. Still others will tell you that it has crossed a border and that you have to pay customs fees! However, these people are taking advantage of your desperation but do not have your dog in their possession!
To check if the person has your dog, ask them if the dog found has a distinctive mark, while remaining vague. For example, ask him if he has one white paw and the other black ones. If he tells you that the dog has a white front right paw while, in yours, it is the left rear paw that is white, you will understand that he is lying to you. In general, in your advertisements, do not give too many details. This will allow you to verify the claims of people claiming to have saved your dog.
The most important thing: keep hope, because your efforts are worth it! Some dogs are found after a few hours, others after years, when everyone thought they were lost! If this happens to you, know that I support your approach 200% and that I sincerely wish you to find your companion, in order to put an end to this stolen dog story.