Top 5 States With The Best Stolen Dog Laws
We’ve done extensive research into each state with specific stolen dog statutes. Based on this analysis, here’s our list of the top five states with the most severe dog theft criminal statutes and penalties.
In Virginia, stealing a dog is a Class 5 felony, punishable by up to 10 years in jail, regardless of the dog’s monetary value.
Louisiana is one of the states that separate dog theft charges by your dog’s value, but their penalties are harsher than many other places.
If the stolen dog’s value exceeds $500, it can result in imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine of up to $3,000 (or both). If the stolen dog is worth less than $500, you could still face a fine and imprisonment but less than for higher value pets.
If guilty of stealing a dog in Oklahoma, one faces a felony conviction with imprisonment in the state jail for a term not less than six months or up to three years.
You can also face a fine equal to three times the value of the animal you stole (up to $500,000).
In New York, stealing a dog is a class E felony that could land you in jail for up to 6 months. In 2014, New York raised its fine for dog theft from $200 to $1,000, regardless of the dog’s monetary value.
If you’re found guilty of dog theft in Mississippi, it’s a felony punishable by a fine of not more than $ 500 or imprisonment in the county jail for up to six months (or both).
Top 10 Most Stolen Dog Breeds
The majority of thefts involve purebreds. Here are the ten most commonly stolen dog breeds.
Thieves steal these breeds for their $2,000+ resale value — the exception is American Pit Bulls, which are taken for illegal fighting purposes. If your dog is not on the most stolen breed list, you should review the most expensive dog breeds that may draw unwanted attention.
Although 92% of pet parents consider dogs members of their family, most state laws don’t agree. You may have heard the term “dognapping,” but it’s misleading from a legal standpoint.
Kidnapping a person is a severe criminal offense. However, the law does not see it that way with kidnapped dogs. Why? A majority of states don’t even have specific stolen pet laws. Dogs, instead, are seen as personal property.
That’s why pet theft most often falls under a state’s general theft and larceny laws. In these states, stealing a pet isn’t distinguished in any way from taking a tv, jewelry, or other possessions.
States That Have Stolen Dog Laws
As of 2022, only 15 states specifically address the theft of dogs in their criminal codes. These include:
What are the charges for stealing a dog? Criminal charges and penalties vary widely by state, even in those with specific criminal codes for dog theft. Most states consider pet theft a misdemeanor, and the penalties include relatively small fines and little to no jail time.
California and Louisiana impose different charges and penalties based on the monetary value of the stolen dog. A few states have stepped up their laws with more severe charges and penalties.
The Gangs That Steal Your Puppies | Crimewave
When people have a pet, its usually just as important as any other member of the family. If someone steals a pet, the owners can be left feeling like a family member has been kidnapped, and will likely want to pursue as severe a punishment as possible for the animal thief.
While kidnapping is treated as a serious crime with severe penalties, you may be wondering what the penalties are for stealing an animal. Well, as it is for most crimes, the penalties for stealing an animal or pet will depend on the state laws where the pet theft occurs.