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St. Paul Reporting Increase In Dog Thefts

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- During a tough economy people are looking to make money any way they can, and in some cases that means stealing someone's dog.

St. Paul and other cities are reporting an increase in dog thefts and attempted dog abductions.

The theory is that people are trying to steal the dogs for breeding purposes, dog-fighting or to re-sell them.

Nation-wide, the American Kennel Club is reporting more than a 30 percent increase in dog thefts. Officials said it is probably even higher because not all thefts are reported.

"The main thing is if people have lost their dogs they need to file a police report immediately," said Angie Wiese, a spokesperson for St. Paul's Department of Safety and Inspections.

Wiese also said a microchip goes a long way towards tracking down a family pet.

It's a nightmare scenario for Mark, who said his dog Brinks is a mobile assist K-9 for his wife who has ALS, not to mention an important member of the family.

"It's shocking and incredibly sad because the bond between dogs and humans is so incredibly strong. You would have to be the scum of the earth to do something like that," said Mark.

There have been reported cases of people stealing dogs and then waiting for a reward to be put out by the pet's owner, before they give them back.

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