Dog Thefts on the Rise in the Upstate

Animal shelters across the Upstate of South Carolina are warning people to keep an eye on their pets due to a recent rise in dog thefts, especially pure breeds, says Angel Newman, Volunteer Coordinator with the Oconee Humane Society. “We’ve heard from the Oconee County Animal Control as well as our dog adoption coordinator that thefts are on the rise in this county and across the area really. Unfortunately people will take dogs right out of your fenced yard if you are not watching and pure breeds are often sold and people get the immediate cash from that. Then people will also steal mixed breed dogs to be part of dog fighting rings, which is just incredible that anyone would put an innocent animal into that environment but that it is the reality. So, if you love your pets we just want to encourage everybody to keep an eye on them, make sure they are secure when they are outside. It can happen in an instant; you’re inside doing something else and you come back and your dog is missing. Finding them is very challenging because they are sold and moved across the country, anything can happen. It is a real problem that we want people to be aware of.” Newman also warns about purchasing pure breed dogs from strangers. “People also need to be aware when they are purchasing an animal from someone you are not familiar with, where did that pet come from? You may be buying someone’s beloved pet unbeknown to you. So, it is important I think with all breeds. There are people who want those dogs. We’ll occasionally get pure breed dogs at the shelter and they go in a matter of hours because people are looking for those particular traits that come with the dog.” For more pet safety tips, visit the Oconee Humane Society’s website at www.oconeehumane.org.