Report a theft to police and animal control right away, get a report number, then give it to your microchip company, nearby shelters and vets.
Report it as a theft, today
Call your local police department and animal control now, and say the word stolen. If the theft is happening or you can see the person, call 911. Otherwise use the non-emergency line or go to the station. The Animal Rescue League of Boston advises filing with both police and animal control immediately. Then contact your microchip company, local shelters and animal hospitals. Use plain wording: My dog was taken from my yard at about 4 p.m. today. I am reporting a theft and I would like a report number. If you have not seen any sign of a theft, search as you would for a lost dog at the same time, because a dog that slipped a gate can look like a stolen one. This guide is for US readers. This is general information, not legal advice.
What to give the officer
A clear report helps the officer and everything you do after it. Bring your dog’s name, breed, color, weight, age and any marks, plus recent photos and the microchip number. Give the exact time and place, and how you know the dog was taken: a cut leash, an open gate that locks, a witness, a video. Describe any person or vehicle, including a partial plate. Bring proof of ownership such as vet records, a license or an adoption contract. Write down the report number and the officer’s name and phone number. Ask how to add new information later, and whom to call if you find the dog listed for sale.
How the law treats it
There is no one US rule, and states write this differently. Virginia Code 3.2-6585 says dogs and cats are personal property and may be the subject of larceny. Connecticut General Statutes 22-350 says dogs are personal property and that a person who steals a dog may be prosecuted. California Penal Code 487e makes stealing a companion animal worth more than $950 grand theft, and the section defines a companion animal to include a dog kept as a household pet. In a state like California, value can matter, so keep the purchase receipt or adoption fee record and any proof of training or breeding value. Ask the officer how your state treats it. Your local prosecutor decides what charges, if any, are brought.
Collect evidence before it disappears
Doorbell and business camera footage can be overwritten, so ask early. Walk the route from where your dog was last seen. Ask neighbors, shops and gas stations whether they have cameras facing the street, and ask them to save the footage from a specific time window. Do not take down or edit your own recordings. Save texts, call logs and social media messages from anyone who has shown an interest in your dog, including recent buyers’ inquiries or a former partner. Take pictures of a cut leash, a broken latch or a damaged fence before you fix them. Give all of this to the officer under your report number, and keep your own copies.
Tell everyone who might see your dog
Call your microchip company, tell them your dog was stolen and give them the report number. Confirm your phone and address while you are on the line. Then call every shelter and animal control office in the area, along with vets, groomers and boarding kennels. Ask them to scan and to check any dog matching the description. Put up flyers in your neighborhood, in public spaces and in businesses, as the Animal Rescue League suggests. Keep one identifying detail off the flyer so you can test callers later. Use your phone number and cross streets, not your home address.
Check sale listings
Stolen dogs may be offered for sale or rehoming, so watch for them. The Animal Rescue League of Boston suggests checking newspaper ads and online postings for listings that match your pet. Set a daily routine: local Facebook groups and Marketplace, Craigslist, Nextdoor and rehoming pages. Search by breed and by nearby town, and check a wider area after the first few days. If you see a possible match, screenshot the listing, the seller’s profile and the date, then send it to the officer. Do not comment on the listing. A public accusation can make the seller delete it and take away your best lead.
Do not go alone
If you find your dog in someone’s yard, or a seller agrees to meet, call the police before you do anything else. Give the officer the address or the listing, your report number and your proof of ownership, and ask for a civil standby or for an officer to attend. Going by yourself puts you at risk, and it can also damage your legal position if you enter someone’s property. Virginia’s section 3.2-6585 lets an animal control or other officer seize a stolen animal and hold it pending court action, which shows why it is better to use that route. Laws in your state may differ. If the person holding your dog is someone you know, the same paperwork applies: proof of ownership, a report number and a written request for return.
Handle rewards and callers carefully
A theft report can attract scammers. Be careful with any reward. The Animal Rescue League suggests asking for a detailed description of your pet and an account of how the person got it, and calling police if you suspect a scam. The Better Business Bureau warns that people claiming to have your pet may press you for money or a gift card and then disappear, and that a real thief may demand payment. It says to ask for a callback number and a current photo. Our post on lost pet scams lists the warning signs. Never send money first. Offer payment only in person, with police involved if anything feels off, and only once you have your dog in your hands.
Sources
Animal Rescue League of Boston: arlboston.org/pet-theft-prevention. Virginia Code 3.2-6585: law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title3.2/chapter65/section3.2-6585. Connecticut General Statutes 22-350: codes.findlaw.com/ct/title-22-agriculture-domestic-animals/ct-gen-st-sect-22-350. California Penal Code 487e: california.public.law/codes/penal_code_section_487e. BBB: bbb.org/article/scams/8612-lost-pet-watch-out-for-this-text-message-scam.