A major part of being a husband is dropping off your spouse so that she can "run in real quick" and pick up that latest must have blouse that has caught her eye. Of course every husband will tell you that A) real quick means 45 minutes to an hour and B)that blouse of course might get lonely without the matching skirt, shoes, and purse that goes with so naturally they must be purchased also. What you inevitably end up with every weekend is a parking lot full of guys just hanging out in their cars listening to whatever game happens to be on, while praying for some type of relief. As a  husband who is continuously finding himself in this type of situation it's in these moments that I find myself watching the goings on of the parking lot. One thing I have noticed is that a large number of people like to leave their pets sitting in their cars while they (you guessed it) "run in real quick". I've never understood the reason for bringing your pet along with you to the store and honestly the only person who it seems convenient for are the criminals out there who are just dying to get their hands on a great dog for nothing.

When it comes to wrong do'ers, pet snatching is a very easy way to make a quick buck. Nobody can be with their pet 24hrs a day and with a little patience a rare breed can easily be taken in a matter of seconds. Recently in the February edition of DogWorld magazine, one contributor listed 7 Tips To Keeping Your Pet From Being Stolen:

• 1. Never leave your pet alone in the car. Most who are caught taking pets out of somebody else's car claim they are taking the pet because they thought it was in danger of overheating. While this may be a noble reason the fact is they are taking what is not theirs
• 2. Print your last name and contact info as well as your pet's name on their id collars
• 3. If you have an outside pet, keep things private. The easiest way to avoid prying eyes is either add a fence or create some natural privacy by planting trees and large shrubs.
• 4. Don't advertise that you have a specific breed of animal. Meaning if you have certain toys that a specific breed of dog is known to enjoy, keep them put up when not in use so potential thieves are not alerted to their presence
• 5. Let people know who is taking care of your pet while you are away. Pick a neighbor you trust and let them in on the fact that you will be gone and if they see anyone other than the person you have chosen to visit your pet daily then the need to contact yourself and the police ASAP.
• 6. Carry a recent photo of your pet to prove that it is yours and help in the search should it go missing
• 7. For inside pets who have their own room or for outside pets, installing a surveillance camera could just be enough to keep your pet safe and sound.

The most important thing to remember about preventing your pet from being stolen is to be aware of your surroundings and to make sure you've done enough to deter any potential pet-nappings from being committed.