Reports of dogs being stolen in the Mother City are on the rise as more and more beloved pets disappear without a trace.
The Cape Of Good Hope SPCA confirmed numbers of such incidents are indeed climbing as the organisation receives more reports regarding stolen dogs as the days go by.
It is believed the stolen pets are either taken to be resold or used in dog fighting.
Locals are being cautioned to get their dogs chipped so they can be traced and ownership can be confirmed if stolen and to ensure that their dogs are never left in an area where it would be easier for someone to take them.
“It is very concerning there has been a huge increase of these incidents being reported to us especially people coming home to locked gates with no dogs,” says Cape Of Good Hope SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham.
Belinda is urging pet-owners to keep their dogs behind closed doors when they are not with them, to let their dogs sleep inside in the evening and to get them microchipped. It is also important to ensure that you are getting your dogs from reputable places as dogs from less trustworthy sources may have been stolen.
“The correct thing to do is to take those pets to the nearest vet to check for a microchip,” says Belinda.
All dog-owners in Cape Town can do for now is to be aware and ensure they keep their animals in a safe and secure place as well as never leave them where they could be easily taken.
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