Losing your dog is a painful ordeal. Having it stolen adds an even more violent and traumatic dimension. Indeed, while your dog is a full-fledged member of the family, to the thief, it is reduced to the status of an object. It can be resold, exploited for breeding, used for laboratory testing… Unbearable situations for you or anyone facing the same situation. And dog thefts have been on the rise for several years. Faced with the shock of losing your dog, panic is often the first (and understandable) reaction, but it must quickly give way to a precise strategy to maximize your chances of finding your dog. We’ll explain everything.
Control your emotions to ensure the flight.
The moment you realize your dog isn’t just lost, but has been intentionally taken by a malicious individual, it is devastating. Yet, you must remain calm and collected.
First, you need to make sure your dog hasn’t simply run away. Proving it was stolen is therefore essential for what follows. You’ll need to gather evidence:
- Look for any sign of forced entry, such as a gate that has been forced or simply opened, or a cut leash.
- Ask your immediate neighbors, local shopkeepers, etc.
- Determine the presumed time of the flight as precisely as possible. This is vital for launching a search or accessing CCTV cameras;
- Gather all documentation relating to your dog, recent photos, identification number, health record, and CAD identification certificate.
Once all these steps have been taken, time is of the essence. Thieves often try to get rid of the animal quickly or move away from the area.
Initiate the reporting process with the relevant authorities.
Stealing a dog or any animal is a criminal offense. It is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of €45,000. Therefore, you must act accordingly.
File a complaint
Only an official complaint allows the theft to be registered and the subsequent procedures to be initiated:
- Go to the gendarmerie or police station that covers your home. There, you will file a complaint for theft, making sure that the complaint explicitly mentions the theft, and not just a simple loss, describing the suspicious circumstances and providing the evidence previously collected.
- Check that the chip or tattoo number is included on the police report. This number is proof of ownership and the only way to prevent resale or fraudulent identification.;
- Make sure you get a receipt, which will be required by insurance companies, associations, and the identification database.
Contact the identification agency.
If your dog is microchipped, you must immediately report its theft to I-CAD, the national organization for the identification of domestic animals. This process, which can be done by email or mail, will update your pet’s status. It is important to note that only the pet owner can take this step.
If a veterinarian or someone contacts the organization to check your dog’s microchip, it will be reported as stolen, alerting the person contacting them. This measure makes stealing and reselling the animal much more difficult.
However, if your dog is not microchipped, I-CAD cannot do anything for you!
Alert local professionals
The goal is to create a network within a radius of at least 50 km. While this process can be lengthy and sometimes unnecessary, it is essential. Therefore, you should contact:
- Veterinarian: Send the photo and description of the dog, marked “stolen,” to all veterinary clinics in the area and surrounding regions. Thieves, even those intending to resell the animal, may need to consult a professional.
- Animal shelters and pounds: Panicked thieves may abandon the dog. Ensure that all animal control services and SPA shelters are informed and carry out systematic microchip checks;
- Breeders and groomers. These are places of passage for potential buyers or receivers of stolen goods.
Field and online research
Once all the legal steps have been taken, you can’t just sit back and relax. A search for your stolen dog must be conducted simultaneously on the ground and online, leveraging the power of social media.
Set up a poster campaign
Posters displayed on the street or in shops remain a powerful tool, capable of reaching people who are not on social media. This is why it’s essential to be strategic when writing the missing person notice :
- Create an impactful poster by highlighting strong words like “stolen!” or “child abduction alert”;
- Add a photo of your dog facing forward;
- Provide a short description: breed, sex, weight, color, special features… and indicate the location of the theft;
- Enter a contact number;
- Optionally mention a reward without specifying the amount.
Once your poster is created, place it in all places of passage, supermarkets, bakeries and tobacconists, public parks, busy streets, bus stops… focusing on the area of the theft, and then expanding.
Using social media
The internet is the solution for quickly and widely publicizing the theft of your dog. Several options are readily available:
- Post on stolen and lost property groups on Facebook or Instagram, clearly stating “Stolen”. Request widespread sharing and ensure your post is public so everyone can share it;
- Alert national platforms dedicated to the loss or theft of animals,s such as Petalert, by filling in all the information fields.
- Carefully monitor all online sales sites such as Le Bon Coin and Facebook Marketplaces. If you find a suspicious ad, do not contact the seller directly. It is best to contact the authorities who took your complaint so they can conduct an investigation.
- Ask your family members, friends, and work colleagues to relay the information, and possibly help you with online monitoring.
Some tips to prevent your dog from being stolen
- Get your dog microchipped and update your contact details in the I-CAD.
- Never leave your dog unattended in front of a store;
- Secure your property with reliable gates and locks, a fence, and, possibly, a video surveillance system;
- Be discreet about your dog, on social media or when faced with overly curious strangers who ask questions about your dog (breed, sterilized or not, habits, price…).
