For several, these are desperate occasions. Nationally, crime has seen a decrease in the last numerous years. However one crime rate is increasing -- dognapping. Some say the alarming trend is the outcome of economic stagnation. This may not be true, as reported by others. Resource for this article: Are dognappings yet another sign of uncertain financial times
Bulldogs call for ransom
Jennifer Thomas, a wheelchair-bound female in Woodland, Wash., recently had her English bulldog Jaggar kidnapped. If she wanted her pet back alive, she would have to do more than pay $1,000. She also had to give the kidnappers prescription pain medication.The note said that Thomas should not involve the police. She told the Cowlitz County law enforcement anyway. Currently, the detective on her lawsuit is on escape. She won't get help yet, according to the Seattle Times. The exploration won't move forward for a while."I just ... want him back," Thomas said.
Kidnapped canines not uncommon
The bad economic climate is not stopping everyone in the pet industry. Spending continues to increase. It seems caring for an animal is one place where people will not skimp. Criminals are taking advantage of that dedication.In just the last year, a ton of canines have been stolen, according to the American Kennel Club. There were 224 cases of dogs reported stolen in the first seven months of 2011, compared to 150 from the same period in 2010. in 2009, there were 162 instances reported. That was the number for the whole year.
Could be the economy’s fault
Lisa Peterson, a spokesperson for the AKC, told USA Today in August, “the motivation is cash and economics.”Probably the most commonly stolen pets are “lap dogs” that people own, as reported by Peterson. Individuals are willing to buy them on the internet while they could be carried away easily. Many times, scammers will ask for a reward. They'll claim to have found the dog that was lost. Leaving a ransom note is very dangerous. This is much easier to determine.
Is tough economy the Great Scapegoat?
Anything that is unusual in the statistics is blamed on the Great Recession ever since it happened, as reported by Time. The tooth fairy is leaving less cash, more married men have been having affairs and more people are buying underwear. These were all examples Time used.Slate’s Annie Lowrey blames the economic climate too. This is the only reason why she thinks puppy-napping would go up. She talked over it. It said:
"Dogs are cheap or free to acquire through perfectly legal means but expensive to own. They need food, shelter, Frisbees, and veterinary visits. The recession seems like a reason not to have a dog, not a reason to steal one."
The owners of these dogs love them. Still, they aren’t worth a while lot, she said. "A recession-driven thief would be better off stealing a bicycle," she said. It is not uncommon for a dog to run away. Some of these are reported as stolen.
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