You’ve heard of House Flipping… now get ready for Pet Flipping. Instead of taking a broken down home, fixing it up and selling it for a profit, some people are actually stealing dogs from unsuspecting families and selling them on the Internet.

There are two ways to “flip” a pet. The first way is to steal a dog from a yard or a home, then turn around and sell it on the web. The other way is that the flipper will see an ad for a found dog on Craigslist or on a flyer, claim the dog as their own, and then sell it for a profit. It makes us sick that people are turning toward dognapping as a source of income… and it’s more concerning because according to police, this type of crime is on the rise.

The rise in Dog Flipping crime has grown over the past five years, with Kansas City, St. Louis and Indianapolis seeing a big jump in dog nappings. No one knows how organized these criminals are, but they do seem to know their marks and pick their victims strategically. These stolen dogs are either sold to unsuspecting families or for breeding purposes. Topping the list of most stolen dogs are Pitbulls, French Bulldogs, Chihuahuas, Labrador Retrievers and Pomeranians

So how can you protect your dog from these criminals? You can always keep your dog on a leash and never leave them outside on their own. As well, be cautious when giving out information about your dogs to people you meet on the street (we’re not saying you should be rude to people asking questions about your pooch, but be wary about how much info you give out). You can also have your dog mircochipped, so no matter if the collar comes off, your dog’s information will always be with him. To ensure that your dog will never be used for breeding purposes, be sure to spay or nurture your dog. And never leave your dog alone in the car (duh) or tied up outside of a store.

Do you know anyone that’s been the victim of Pet Flipping? What can we, as pet parents, do to stop these heartless criminals? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.