What To Do if Your Pet Was Stolen

As upsetting as it is to lose a pet, it’s even worse when you believe that your pet was stolen. If you suspect pet theft, you must act immediately. Here are some ways to get a stolen pet back, as well as some preventative measures you can take:

1. Call the police right away. Filing a report creates a record of the theft and will make it easier to retrieve your pet if you happen to see her or hear of her location.
2. Contact HomeAgain. The moment you give HomeAgain’s pet recovery service the details of the alleged theft, people in your area will be alerted to the loss. You’ll have a team working with you to hunt down clues about your pet’s whereabouts.
3. Get on the phone. Call all of the shelters, vet offices, and grooming salons in your town and neighboring towns. The thief may have second thoughts about keeping the animal and try to leave her at a vet office or grooming salon.
4. Find a few great photos. The best images are clear, close-up shots that show your pet’s head and a side profile of his body. Crop digital photos so that there is nothing distracting in the background. Ideally, you'll want color images to give to the police and send via email to animal shelters and grooming salons.
5. Spread the word. Post flyers offering a reward for any information leading to the recovery of your pet, but don’t indicate that you believe she was stolen. The person who stole her might want to give her back, but probably won’t if there’s the possibility of prosecution. Don’t even use the words “no questions asked.” Finally, do not specify the amount of the reward.
6. Make it news. Write an email or letter to local newspapers to let them know about the theft. Include a photo of your pet and any details that you think may interest a reporter, especially genuine details that pull at the heartstrings. If there have been other pet thefts in the area, perhaps there’s a pet crime wave happening in your town—that’s definitely a story for the paper.
7. Get on the air. While you’re at it, call your local radio station and offer them the same story. You might find an animal-loving DJ that will take up your cause.
8. Leave it to the authorities. If you happen to see your pet with someone else or in someone’s yard, call the police immediately, and have your case number on hand. Do not try to recover the pet yourself.
9. Be wary and wise. If someone calls you from another state or town asking for money to ship your pet back, it’s probably a scam—predators have been known to target vulnerable pet owners through classified ads or flyers.
10. Play it safe. Most importantly, take measures to keep pet theft from happening in the first place. Never leave your pet unattended in a car, outside of a store, or even in your yard if there’s a way that a thief can easily enter.

Nikki Moustaki, MA, MFA, is a dog trainer, bird care and behavior consultant, and a freelance writer in New York City. She is the author of more than 26 books on pet care and training and is the host of www.dogfessions.com.