If you are a pet owner, then you know how important it is for them to get plenty of fresh air and exercise. Unfortunately, we don’t always have the time to take them out for walks. In those instances, our best bet is to put them outside so they can get some exercise on their own. However, dog theft is the risk you take when you leave your dog outside alone. Luckily, there are ways to reduce the chances of it happening to you.

Mazzara had left her dog in the yard

When Jade Mazzara left her Corgi Pagan outside, she didn’t think anything out of the ordinary would happen. However, when she went to bring her dog in, Pagan had disappeared. Looking around, Mazzara attempted to find her dog. Quickly, she came to the realization that her dog had likely been stolen. The fence was too high for Pagan to have gotten out alone.

“I just had this gut feeling that someone came into my yard and stole her,” Mazzara said.

Quickly surveying the yard, Mazzara found a piece of unusual evidence, a ribbon tied next to a cut in her fence. Wondering where this ribbon had come from, she decided to check Facebook. Soon, Mazzara learned that other pet owners had noticed ribbons popping up on their fences as well. Chances are, they were being used to mark properties for thieves to steal animals at a later time.

Pagan was found by a neighbor

Fortunately for Mazzara, helpful Facebook users on the “Loxahatchee Lost and Found” page were able to help her find Pagan – who was located at a neighbor’s house. A local on Facebook claimed to have seen Pagan thrown out of the window of a truck. From there she was reunited with Mazzara only a few hours later.

Chances are, Mazzara’s dog was stolen to use for breeding, but once the thieves realized she had been spayed and was useless for their purposes, they had quickly gotten rid of her. Why exactly Pagan was nabbed will probably never be known. Mazzara is just glad she is home and will keep a closer eye on her dog in the future.

Dog thefts are on the rise

Alarmingly, over two million dogs are stolen in the U.S. each year. And with only 10 percent of stolen dogs being reunited with their owners, it is more important than ever to take steps to prevent this occurrence. Here some more practical ways to help reduce the chances of it happening to you.

Have your dog microchipped

Start by making sure your dog is microchipped., A microchip contains important information about your dog – such as their name and age, as well as your name and address. If your dog ever becomes lost, they can easily be identified by a local shelter, where scanners are often kept. Keep in mind, however, that if you move, you will need to update your microchip information so that you can be found at your new address.

Install a security system

You can also install a security system on your property. At least this way you can identify any dog thieves. Make sure to place cameras so that you can see all around your property – not just one focused on the front yard. Dog thieves are pretty sneaky and covering all of your bases is usually your best option.

Use a dog GPS tracker

You can also purchase a GPS collar that lets you track your dog if they ever go missing. This is not foolproof, though, as a thief can simply remove the collar once they have your dog in hand. In all cases, you should contact the police so that they can be on the lookout for the thieves and help reunite you with your dog as soon as possible.

Check out the video below, which explains more ways you can help prevent the theft of your dog.

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Source: This Morning

H/T: CBS12