Inside the dark world of dognapping

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Ben Stickle, Middle Tennessee State University and Brenda Vose, University of North Florida

(THE CONVERSATION) It’s late at night, and a stranger walking down an alley sees your family dog sleeping on the porch inside your fenced yard. The stranger softly calls the dog over and begins to pet him. While checking to see if anyone is watching, he opens the gate, clips a leash to your dog’s collar and leads him away, never to be seen again. The next morning, your family is distraught; when a neighbor’s video surveillance reveals that your dog was stolen, you feel deeply violated.

While the emotions described are implied, the circumstances are not: Reports suggest that dog thefts are on the rise in the U.S..

Losing a pet can be devastating, and it’s a crime that has repercussions that go far beyond the animal’s financial value. Many dog owners view their dogs as members of their family; a 2020 study found that the loss of a pet can have a similar emotional impact to the...