Vets Say Technology Could Help Combat Dog Thefts

Animal activists are worried over what appears to be a rash of dog thefts in the state.

In a KARK investigation last night we told you those activists and pet owners believe that stealing dogs is the newest way for criminals to make an easy buck.

The Pulaski County Humane Society says they used to receive half a dozen calls for lost pet inquiries every month but within the past six months, the numbers, they say, have skyrocketed to close to 100 calls per month.

The surest way to keep your dog safe is to keep them in your sight.

But if they do happen to take off, or worse are taken, technology could help: if it's already in place.

"I just love my animals," said Maria Drake, outside of Petco in Little Rock.

Any animal lover can vouch, losing a pet is heart wrenching.

"I'm worried I'll lose them, they're a part of me," Drake said.

But some vets say many people forgo one of the surest ways to keep their pets safe.

"I don't think we do nearly as many as we need to be doing," said Dr. Ronnie Roberson with Treasure Hill Animal Hospital in Little Rock.

Dr. Roberson says his office implants about 10 microchips every month. The technology is essentially a bar code that's easily implanted under a pet's skin and is tied to records of ownership.

If a lost dog is brought to a shelter or clinic, they can be scanned and the pet easily reunited with their owner.

But perhaps because of cost, upwards of $100, Dr. Roberson says many people opt against it.

"It just hasn't caught on like I thought it would. When this came out, I thought everyone is going to get chips put in and they don't," he said.

Dr. Roberson admits there's one big flaw: A thief may be hesitant to hand over a pet for scanning. We spoke with two women Sunday whose animals disappeared despite being micro-chipped.

Still, Dr. Roberson says, it could help.

"It's about the only weapon we have right now, so we don't have any choices," he said.

The chip doesn't physically track the animal and currently, no product offers a GPS implant, though certain collars available on the internet will map their movements and can even send updates to your phone

"I wish they would make something like that," said Pit Bull owner Alexis Higgs.

Higgs says if a more advanced tracking system could combat dog thieves, she'd be all for it, even willing to pay up.

"My lost dog is out there, I want to know where he is," Higgs said.

The other big piece of advice: really pound the pavement after your dog has gone missing.

Put up fliers, contact lost and found websites and shelters.

You can report lost and found pets by going to the Arkansas Lost and Found Pet Network's Facebook page or CARE for Animals.