Readers had strong reactions to our recent column about the rise in pet theft, and how you can protect yourself and your pet. Here were some comments in e-mail and on Facebook.
“My dog Neecee was stolen right out of my car,” wrote Mary. “She was an older dog, so I never would have guessed she’d be a target. I left her in the car to run into Walgreens. I will never forgive myself.”
“Such an important issue,” wrote Laurie. “Also, people should refrain from ‘giving away a free pet to a good home’ too. Talk about dog bait. That’s the first place they go.”
“Just saw your report on WGN,” wrote Ray. “One item to add to your checklist—never put your pet’s name on the collar. List your name and a phone number. You don’t want the bad guys calling your pet by its name.”
“I heard my dog barking like crazy once and I went outside to see what was going on,” wrote Jenny. “Someone threw a steak into the yard, and my Lucy was starting to eat it. I picked it up right away and threw it out. I thought they were trying to rob me and wanted to distract the dog, but maybe it was to drug her so they could steal her? Whatever the reason, I’m not leaving her in the yard for long periods of time anymore. Sorry, but my big German Shepherd will just have to spend more time inside.”
“My cat has had her chip for 15 years,” wrote Angela. “I have an appointment to get one for my new kitten as well. They are both always indoors, but you never know. And I used to move a lot, so my cat’s chip has my veterinarian’s information in it.”
Nora wrote: “When we were kids there was a feline theft ring in Evanston. Northwestern students were selling cats to labs. I still recall when some neighbors found my cat weeks after she went missing. My parents never told me about the issue until after my kitty was found. And people must update microchips every time they move. I forgot to do this myself. Your vet can do it at your next visit—or I bet you can update it online.”
“My dogs have microchips,” wrote Rik, who has successfully deterred a couple of attempted pet thefts. “… By the time you locate them with microchips it’s probably too late. But I do it anyway.”
“Thanks for the reminder”, wrote Kim. “I just moved and thus far forgot to update the address [in our pet’s microchip].”
And finally, Mark wrote: “My wife had her hamster stolen during college (in an all girl’s dorm) after she put him in the hall for being too noisy on his little plastic wheel. (They’re nocturnal.) No ransom note was left. She was traumatized.”
Twitter: @jenweigel
