Many people believe that pet thieves cruise neighborhoods and steal dogs and cats for profit.
Local laws apply to the theft of pets.
The AWA does discourage pet theft however, by requiring licensed animal dealers to keep records that help trace lost and stolen dogs and cats. By understanding what this law can and can't do, pet owners can become aware of how they can assist USDA in detecting pet theft. The recordkeeping requirement of the AWA mandates that federally licensed or registered businesses, institutions, or agencies record the names and addresses of all people selling them dogs or cats. These businesses must keep records showing each animal's identifying number and description. Animal dealers must hold all dogs or cats they acquire for at least 5 days.