Scared someone is going to steal my dog

[EveHarrington]

Microchips.....well there are multiple kinds, so if you take a dog with a microchip to a vet, and the vet doesn’t have the right kind of reader.....then no dice. And this is even if the dog gets to a place that has a reader. The GPS locators are on collars or tags, so as soon as a thief takes it off? It’s useless. My last dog had a tattoo. Easy to read and faster to get the dog back into your hands if someone finds him.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

@lostforgottensoul is probably right - many people are just flat-out suspicious of pit-bulls, and the odds are very high that your neighbor was asking because they are anti-breed.

Or, in my experience people seem to expect him to be aggressive and because he's so well behaved they seem to be in awe about that. Not anti-pitbull but just not what they expected.

 

[scout86]

The guy showed up a second time? I guess that would make me a little suspicious, because the dog fight people do kind of have a reputation for stealing dogs.

Having said that, they usually go for something easy, you know? So, if the dog is either with you, or locked in your apartment, you probably have nothing to worry about. But, I'd get the guy's tag number. And you might check to see if he lives in your building.

My T likes to suggest I remember the difference between "probable" and "possible". In this case, it's possible someone might try to steal your dog. Is it likely? Not if you keep tabs on him like it sounds like you do.

 

[NoWhereKnowWhere]

Yes I have a bully breed pupper and I’ve been approached several times by different people wanting to buy her. I know people do steal dogs and I never leave her outside shops or anything like that. I’ve also gotten her a vest that says please respect my space so people just leave us alone when we’re out walking.

Honestly though its easier to just pick up dogs out of gardens and check listenings for free to good home dogs and the pound. The likelihood is pretty slim that they’re going to break into your house. The tracking chips you get now are so great some even have apps so you can check on your phone that your doggo is where they’re supposed to be. I’m not sure if that’s a great idea if you would spend a lot of time checking.

I’ve got this really shit intrusive thought at the moment that my house is on fire and my pupper is at home. It’s really hard to stop myself from just ditching work and going home. It’s cold here so I leave the radiator on low when I’m out and I don’t know why but I keep getting this horrible thought it’s going to catch fire. I’m really working on not listening to this as it’s causing me a lot of distress atm.

I’ve been using distraction and thought stoping and even radical expectance when I can’t convince myself my homes not a blaze I try to think that there’s nothing I can do as it would already be too late. I’m trying a lot of stuff to see what helps. My trauma has literally nothing to do with fire I’m just a bit symptomatic at the moment and my brain is being a bit of a dick about it. And I love my dog so much I don’t know what id do if anything happened to her.

 

[littleoc]

Well, jeez, now I'm worried about how to track my service dog if someone kidnaps her...?

 

[Deleted member 541]

A tracking chip is the best way...

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Honestly though its easier to just pick up dogs out of gardens and check listenings for free to good home dogs and the pound. The likelihood is pretty slim that they’re going to break into your house.

Yes! When I got Chopper, the shelter in which he came from I made sure that they would take him back if he wasn't gonna work out (he was orginally a pet, not given to me for service work) because I knew how impossible it was going to be to rehome him in a good home that wasn't going to use him for fighting or baiting. Petfinder and criags list are places that are easiest to find dogs for that sort of thing. But even dogs that are used for fighting are normally bred for their aggression and size. Their muscle tone and so forth. Dog fighting champions are worth a ton of money. So its not likely a dog fighter will steal a dog for that. They want to know it will fight no matter what and that sort of temperment has to be bred. It is also taught and trained and I have worked with a lot of fighting dogs that bounced back and made amazing pets but most of the time fighters want a "champion fighter" and to get that you have to intentionlly breed for that temperment then train that dog from puppyhood. Most of the dog stealing I've come across are for baiting dogs. Which can be any breed of dog. The dogs only used to bait don't have to be anything really.

Just my experiences with it all.

 

[scout86]

So its not likely a dog fighter will steal a dog for that.

They don't steal them to fight, they steal them to use in the "training" part. :(

 

[lostforgottensoul]

they steal them to use in the "training" part. :(

That's usually refered to as baiting or a bait dog. I supposed I should have said training as that's basically what it is.

 

[Peace2018]

I moved. I have to go back for the rest of my stuff tomorrow. I spoke with my therapist to make sure I wasn't crazy and she confirmed the red flags were real and not perceived. I probably did not explain the situation as well as I could have but have been triggered since last night over this. For those of you who didn't dismiss me, thank you.

 

[scout86]

I hope the move turns out to be an all around good thing!

 

[BrownMoose]

I live in pretty safe area but the population living here is transient and someone who lives in my building approach...

Hey. You have a valid feeling based on your experience and don't listen to those who don't want to validate it.

Trust your instincts even if they seem paranoid. Start to process the times your fear about something came true or didn't. It will help you to remain calmer and less paranoid to trust your feelings about something which is the only thing that matters.

Zeus, I would suggest keeping him locked in your place when you're not there and if you made friends with anyone living there ask them to keep an eye out for you because this guy made you feel uncomfortable by some things he said.

I know how it feels when your body is sending you mixed messages about your environment to create fear and it's hard to control. PTSD is hard to control the fight or flight response and at times it makes you fear everything.

Protect yourself and your dog. Maybe consider talking to this guy about how much your dog means to you and has helped you. Sometimes establishing a connection to a person can help too if you feel comfortable and safe.

I hope things work out for you.