A disturbing trend of dog thefts has emerged in Connecticut, where heartless criminals are resorting to altering the appearance of stolen pets to avoid detection. According to CT Dog Gone Recovery, a missing pet group, at least three dogs were found with their fur dyed and shaved during a four-day period in mid-April. The thieves’ motive appears to be either keeping the dogs for themselves or selling them for profit.
Donna Russo, a volunteer for CT Dog Gone Recovery, expressed her concern over the deliberate disguises used by the criminals, making it even more challenging for owners to locate their missing pets. The altered appearances also make it easier for the thieves to sell expensive breeds online, as descriptions on flyers and social media become less reliable.
Among the victims of these cruel makeovers is Marcus, an 8-year-old Shih Tzu mix, whose beige and brown coat was dyed a dark violet. Another dog, Mocho, a 3-year-old French Bulldog, had her tan patches dyed black. The criminals may have released Mocho once they realized she had been spayed and couldn’t be used for breeding. French Bulldogs, known for their popularity and high market value, have been linked to various crimes, including thefts and dog-nappings.
In another case, a 5-year-old Shih Tzu with fluffy hair was found shaved in the Bridgeport area. Owners who were desperate to reunite with their beloved pets relied on “found dog” photos shared by concerned individuals who had seen the “lost dog” flyers posted on CT Dog Gone Recovery’s Facebook page.
CT Dog Gone Recovery has been dealing with appearance-altered missing dogs since June 2021 when a white Shih Tzu mix was recovered with red fur. The group advises pet owners to microchip their dogs to aid in identification if they go missing. They also emphasize the importance of not leaving expensive breeds unattended, even in one’s own backyard.
New Haven Police Officer Christian Bruckhart stated that the department was not aware of Marcus’s case. However, CT Dog Gone Recovery has been actively involved in resolving missing dog cases, with an impressive 86% success rate in reuniting owners with their pets out of the 962 cases they worked on last year.
1 Response
This is truly heartbreaking to hear about the increase in dog thefts in Connecticut. It’s devastating to think that there are heartless criminals out there who would go to such lengths to steal and alter the appearance of someone’s beloved pet. I can’t even imagine the pain and anguish that the pet owners must be going through.
I would be interested to hear the author’s thoughts on what could be done to address this issue. Are there any measures that can be taken to prevent dog thefts or to