Mounties in the Fraser Valley are warning pet owners to licence and tattoo their animals after the suspected theft of three dogs from the same Chilliwack neighbourhood.
The Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment of the RCMP says three dogs have gone missing in the past few months.
Most recently, a two-year-old Golden Lab named Roxy disappeared from its owner's yard on Feb. 28.
The red collar Roxy was wearing at the time was later found discarded on the yard, leading police to believe that someone removed it when they took her. The theft was confirmed by the SPCA.
Cpl. Tammy Hollingsworth said the incident has disturbed the family, which includes two young children.
"They're upset as you can imagine – their family member has been taken from them," she told ctvbc.ca.
Investigators are also in the process of speaking with a man who listed his dog as stolen on Craigslist.
Hollingsworth, whose family's Springer Spaniel was stolen from her home when she was just five years old, says the experience of losing a pet can be devastating to a young person.
"It's like having one of your family members taken from right underneath your nose," she said.
Police say pet owners should keep identification tags on their pet at all times, get it tattooed and keep an updated file of veterinarian records. It is also helpful to keep a current photo of your pet, especially if it has any identifiable markings.
