Puppy snatched by two men in Birmingham while being walked by owner’s friend - warning issued about dognapping

A puppy that was snatched from a Birmingham suburb while it was being walked has been reunited. The heartbroken owner of the puppy had shared his joy and thanked the many who supported his search for his missing pet.

A male American Bulldog named Chaos was being walked on February 19 near Witton Train Station when it was stolen. The dog is 14 weeks old and microchipped. He was wearing a blue collar with owner’s details. Bulldogs are one of the most commonly stolen breeds of dogs in the UK.

The housemate of the dog’s owner was walking Chaos when two men approached him and took off with the puppy. The dog was lilac in colour, has a white chest piece, white toes, and pale blue eyes.

Missing Pets GB have shared the information about the dog and were appealing for information. Aston Police were also alerted. The dog was reunited just two days later after it was dumped in a garden, according to the dog lost website.

Thousands of pets are stolen in the West Midlands every year and American Bulldogs are very much in demand. They are the fifth most commonly stolen breed of dogs at 6.4%, according to ADT’s data. A well-bred American Bulldog puppy costs between £400 and £1000, depending on the pedigree. They are affectionate, protective and intelligent. 124 dog thefts were reported to the West Midlands Police in 2022 and 122 dogs were stolen in 2021, according to a Freedom of Information request.

The RSPCA has some advice on reducing the risk of your pet being stolen:

• Never leave your dog outside a shop on their own or in a car unattended.
• Train your dog to come back when called, and never let them off the lead if you’re not sure they’ll come back to you. If in doubt, use a long-line lead, especially if you’re in an unfamiliar area where your dog may get lost more easily.
• Make sure your garden is secure and if you have a gate then fit it with a lock. It’s also a good idea to fit a bell to the gate so you hear if anyone opens it.
• Don’t leave your dog on their own in the garden, or at least keep them in view.
• Get your dog microchipped - the best way of making sure you can be reunited with your dog if they’re lost or stolen is to have them microchipped, which is now a legal requirement.
• It’s vital to keep your contact details up-to-date on the database, so remember to update them if you move home or change your phone number.
• Keep recent photographs of your pet and make a note of any distinguishing features.
• Take care when choosing someone to care for your dog if you’re going away or need a dog walker while you go to work. Use a reputable company or boarding kennels, and check references for people who provide dog or house-sitting services
• Neuter your pet, as this can reduce the likelihood of them roaming.
• Put a collar and tag on your pet - when they’re in a public place, every dog must wear a collar with the name and address of their owner engraved on it, or on a plate or tag attached to it. We also recommend including your mobile phone number on any ID, as this can help reunite you with your pet quickly should they ever get lost or stolen. Cat collars should be quick-release to stop them from hurting themselves.

Here are the nine breeds of dogs that thieves steal - and their estimated value: