(Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images) Other popular targets include Yorkshire terriers, Labrador retrievers, Siberian huskies and golden retrievers.Ī notice warning visitors to Denham Country Park that dog thieves have been reported in the area is pictured on Feb. Frenchies are only the fifth most popular dog microchipped with the company, said AKC Reunite President and CEO Tom Sharp, but they’re No. Microchip company AKC Reunite has seen reports of stolen pets increase from 6 percent of dogs reported lost before 2015 to 12 percent now, with more marked increases since 2020. (One of the task force’s recommendations: Making “pet abduction” a separate criminal offense.)Īny valuable dog breed may be stolen, but small purebred dogs that are easy to pick up and purebred puppies are the most at risk. government created a task force to study the issue and how it might be solved. The seriousness of the problem is such that the U.K. In the U.K., which has similar pet-ownership trends to the U.S., the theft of dogs increased by 170 percent between 20. Singer Lady Gaga is seen with her dogs Miss Asia and Koji in Midtown on February 19, 2016, in New York. And many owners have stories like McGinnis’ - dogs taken from their carers in broad daylight - often violently or even at gunpoint. Others have been taken in groups from kennels and pet stores. Some dogs have been stolen by happenstance, when they were in the back of a car or van during carjackings, which have been on the rise. The issue gained significant attention early last year, when two of Lady Gaga’s Frenchies were taken at gunpoint by assailants who shot her dog-walker (who sustained severe injuries but survived the attack). This led to an increase in dognappings and other dog-related crimes. As with so many other goods, the price of all purebred and designer dogs skyrocketed when the pandemic started. Since dogs are considered property, their thefts are lumped in with statistics on stolen computers, jewelry and the like. It’s difficult to know exactly how many dogs are stolen in the United States each year. The man took Alfred, jumped back in the car and sped away. “‘Please, ma’am, let go of the dog.’” She did. He put the gun in her face and said, ‘Let go of the dog now,’” McGinnis said. A man wearing a ski mask got out and put a gun to her head. ![]() She and Alfred were three blocks from her house when a vehicle pulled up behind her with two men in the car. At the time, his mother lived in what McGinnis described as a “cookie-cutter neighborhood” in Maryland, filled with town houses and single-family homes. In September 2021, McGinnis left the year-old Frenchie in his mother’s care while he met up with friends. In 2020, French bulldogs became the second most popular dog breed in America (Labrador retrievers have a death grip on the top spot), despite a price tag that starts around $2,000 and can go up to $10,000.Īlfred and Will McGinnis at home before the dognapping. McGinnis had never had a Frenchie before, but in getting Alfred, he joined an ever-growing number of Americans obsessed with the expensive breed.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |