This entry was posted on 2014-09-17 by Robyn Adams.

Dogs escape. They dig under fences, jump over fences. Someone leaves the gate open and your dog takes the opportunity to go for a stroll around the neighbourhood. Unfortunately, the outside world isn’t as safe and secure as we’d like it to be and we need to take the necessary precautions to make sure that our furry friends stay within the confines of the grassy safe space.

It seems as though there is one more thing we need to add to our “To Do List for Responsible Pet Owners”.

And that’s to watch out for pet thieves.

There will always be someone who will take advantage of a situation for their own gain. And unfortunately stealing pets seems to be a growing concern in South Africa.

Unless you can teach your dog to bark your telephone number, he’s going to need a collar with an up-to-date tag, as well as a microchip.

There are a few things you can do to minimise the risk of someone taking advantage of a friendly pet. (These should be done regardless of whether or not you think your pet is at risk)

It is very important to make sure that should your pet get lost or be taken, that the vets - or any rescue organisation – is able to link your dog to you. Unless you can teach your dog to bark your telephone number, he’s going to need a collar with an up-to-date tag, as well as a microchip. Collars can be removed and tags get lost, but microchips are relatively permanent. If someone finds your pet and takes them to the local vet or rescue organisation, the first thing they will do is scan for a microchip. This will bring up all your details and hey presto – you’ll have your best friend back in no time.

Make sure your garden is properly enclosed.
Dogs are explorers! If climbing up a tree to get over a wall is what they need to do to start their adventure in the outside world, then that is exactly what they’ll do. Take them for long walks in different surroundings and make sure that when they are at home, they’re entertained with smelly bones and squeaky toys.

If you live on a busy road, or a road that gets a lot of foot traffic, try to keep your dog away from that part of the garden. Be especially careful of breeds that could be taken for fighting – Pitbulls, staffies, boerboels etc. This one might be a bit more difficult. But the harder you make it for the thieves, the better.

Be aware of the people walking past your fence. Your dog probably won’t leave with just anyone. But a friendly person who stops to say hello every day? Sure! Why not!

Remember that you’ve spent every waking hour trying to convince your dog that humans are the best. And dogs don’t discriminate. They can’t tell the difference between a good guy and a bad guy so it’s up to us to make sure they never have to deal with the terrible ones.