Petnappers Are on the Loose!

It’s 10:00PM—do you know where your pets are? We hope you do, because according to the American Kennel Club, petnapping (kidnapping a pet) is on the rise! Although cops don't keep track of stolen dogs and kittens as meticulously as they should, a source at the AKC says that three times as many pets were reported stolen in 2008 than in previous years.

So why the animal thievery? Some blame it on the economy and desperate times calling for desperate measures. Owning a dog is pricier than it has ever been, and if someone gets their paws on a designer breed they can turn around and sell it for thousands. Nice money making scheme, huh? The most wanted pets are the toy breeds due to their increasing popularity (thank you, Paris Hilton) and high-price quick turnover. Others petnap simply to return the dog to its original owner in exchange for a sweet reward.

Want to avoid a stolen pet? Adopt one!

Tell us what you think about petnappers. How do you think you can keep your pet safe? [MSNBC]