MASON CITY, IA - It's not a new thing for stolen dogs to end up in North Iowa. "There's been a couple incidents were we'll find a stray out on the west side of town and we bring them back and we find out that it's got a collar and tags."
Pat Gansen with Mason City Animal Control tells us she isn't surprised to hear about a nationwide increase of stolen pets. Especially since thieves can make good money off of stealing and reselling designer dogs.
"I guess with the economy the way it is, anything is possible."
In fact the American Kennel Club reported 224 dogs were snatched this year, and it's a big jump from 150 the year before.
But Sybil Soukup with the Humane Society of North Iowa says there's an easy way to help keep your pet close to home.
"Mircrochipping your pet is a good idea and it's relatively inexpensive and relatively painless."
Sybil says the system works. This last year, the Humane Society found a Bischon in Clear Lake with a microchip. After they scanned the chip, they found the owner in Des Moines and the dog was reported stolen the week before.
"We were able to reunite her with her dog"
But not everyone is that lucky. So Sybil says keep you pets at home or on a leash, and it doesn't hurt to get the chip.
