Friday, August 1, 2014

A warning about (or for?) dog nappers



EVG reader Melissa Elledge spotted this warning sign on East Eighth Street and Avenue B.

Has there been an outbreak of dog thefts of late?

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe it's not about bewaring dognappers, i.e. dog thieves, but dog-nappers--sleepy dogs.

I wish my cats would nap a little more. Mine just want to park their fat fuzzy butts directly on my keyboard and then look at me like "What?"

Anonymous said...

Who would want someone else's dog?

nygrump said...

Pure evil, they steal them to be used as bait for training illegal fighting dogs. There is a long human tradition of fighting animals, but you don't use up animals in training.

Anonymous said...

Ugh, horrible. Though a good reminder that our country has silly strict laws about dogs and restaurants/cafes/etc. Travel around Europe/UK and you'll see tons of dogs sitting quietly in cafes and pubs.

Anonymous said...

Dogs that are not chipped or tattooed are usually stolen, then sold to research labs. So theres that fate as well as bait.
Often they use an unmarked van and pull up then toss them in and take off. you never see them again.
sad but true.

Anonymous said...

Dogs are stolen often and the EV has seen a number of dogs gone missing in recent months. Posters have been going up in the dog runs in the parks to alert owners.
Dogs are stolen for various reasons; 1. to be used in laboratories (not so common)
2. to be used as bait dogs to train fighting dogs (more common and lower than low are the two legged animals who do this)
3. to be ransomed back to owners..hey...I saw your flyer and found your dog...want him back? $50..or did you post a reward? I will come collect it and bring your dog back (more common than you might think)
4. someone can't afford a dog and they think yours is cute, or abandoned, so off it goes (least common)

THE NOTORIOUS L.I.B.E.R.A.T.I.O.N. said...

It's sad that we need a sign reminding people to practice common sense. Even though the city has a fro-yo veneer, it's still a city. Does are stolen to be resold, either as pets or for dog fighting. Would you tie your baby to a garbage can while you head into Starbucks? Probably not.

uncle Pete said...

where do you think crusties get their dogs? you think a shelter would give them one?

Anonymous said...

And grave robbing is common in the EV these days too, especially on stormy foggy nights. If people are concerned about their dogs being stolen how about don't let them off a leash, leave them at home if you need to run to the deli for something, I'm not saying it is not possible for someone to take a dog that is tied outside a store even for a few minutes but I doubt we have a common problem here.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe people are stupid enough to leave their dogs tied up outside coffee shops and stores. They get stolen all the time from creeps who sell them on Craigslist, want dogs to use for dog fighting, etc. I saved a dog from being taken by a homeless guy once. Happy to help the pooch but resentful he was put in that position.

Anonymous said...

@12:32 I trust your expertise. I know you have your finger on the pulse of this topic.

Anonymous said...

Uncle Pete is correct regarding the crusties and the pets they use as props to panhandle. Crusties steal dogs and cats. I've emailed the ASPCA but they have no interest in addressing the issue of homeless junkies and their animals. Dogs are stolen every day because dog owners feel they can take their pets anywhere and then they don't pay attention and the dog is gone. Dogfighting rings exist all over the city and they need training/bait dogs. I wish some of the commenters wouldn't make light of this situation. This is a common problem. Just because Manhattan or the EV has a "fro-yo veneer" doesn't mean the rest of NYC does.
If you want to rob you go where the rich idiots are and there are no shortage of them moving here who perhaps think the EV is some kind of gated community like the one they grew up in. They have no street sense at all and wonder why dogs get stolen. I love how they open doors for strangers too. God these folks are clueless.

Anonymous said...

Dogs are being stolen for the award money. They are help until posters are put up offering a reward. A dog was taken from 11th street between B and C late last saturday night. It was ransomed a few days later for $500...

Anonymous said...

uncle Pete, stop agreeing with yourself as another anonymous and coercing your views much like your uncle Bloomberg did. Enjoy your fro-yos.

Scuba Diva said...

I find most people who tie their dogs outside businesses—even ones I point out to them they could bring their dogs inside—resent when I sit outside and wait for them to come out.

They usually take their damn sweet time, and tell me to mind my own business.

There's one of these signs inside the gate of First Run as well—not that anyone will pay attention to it. I'm sad that the same people that tell me to mind my own business are the ones who are going to be crying for help when their dog goes missing.