Pet Theft Awareness Day is Feb. 14

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. While the date is traditionally a celebration of love that steals your heart away, the holiday is also a time for all pet parents to protect their hearts from being broken by the theft of their dog or cat companion.

Statistics state that one out of every three pets will become lost in their lifetime. Many of the missing are never reunited with their human families, and can end up facing life in a puppy mill or as a bait dog.

Make a date to see if you can check off all the items in Last Chance for Animals' Pet Theft Awareness Day list, which is filled with advice that could save your pet's life:

• Have your barking buddy spayed or neutered, which will both deter Rover from roaming and help the problem of pet overpopulation.


• Never leave your tail-wagging chum unattended in a car, outside a store, or even in your own yard.


• Ensure that your pet cannot be seen from the street.


• Remember that those "free to a good home" ads can come at a heavy price- the well-being of our four-legged friends. Replies to such ads often come from class B dealers who acquire free canines and cats to resell. If you need to rehome a companion animal, contact a reputable rescue group.


• If your dog disappears, one way to increase the chances of a happy reunion is to make sure that your pet has both an ID tag and a permanent form of identification, such as a microchip.


• Keep a current snapshot of Spot and a written description of your pal with paws with you at all times, in case of an emergency.

Celebrity Support

A line-up of animal-loving luminaries are using their star wattage to shine a light on the problem of pet theft, including actress/animal advocate Pamela Anderson, model Kenya Kenski Jones and Priscilla Presley, who was honored at the 2015 Last Chance for Animals fundraising gala with the Celebrity Activist of the Year Award in recognition of her kind acts for our furry friends in need.

Last Chance for Animals

Founded in 1984 by actor Chris DeRose, Last Chance for Animals champions a number of paws causes, among them the plight of puppy mill dogs and efforts to end the fur trade and the transport of animals to laboratories.

For more information regarding Last Chance for Animals:

• visit www.lcanimal.org

Photo Credit: Last Chance for Animals