Pooch Poaching

Considering inflation and the risk of serving 10-to-20, a $100 stickup is not what it used to be. And why chance it when a little dognaping can turn a bigger profit? According to Duncan Wright, director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, there has been a marked increase in "demands for ransom to return animals." The ransom bite usually ranges between $150 and $200. Sometimes those seeking ransom do not even have the animal; they pose as dog finders when they see the phone number of a grief-stricken owner in "Dog Lost" advertisements.

One Chicago couple suffered the double indignity of being assaulted and robbed when they tried--in vain--to buy back their dog. To discourage ransom demands, animal-welfare officials in San Francisco have stopped giving the phone numbers of pet losers to callers who report finding animals. Instead, the ASPCA relays the information. Tattooed registration numbers on a dog's skin discourage thieves, but the marking should never be put on the dog's ear. Reason: dognapers might cut off the ear and mail it to the owner as proof they have poor Fido.

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