Eight dogs a day stolen or lost in Belgium

In the first five months of 2013, the Belgian association for canine identification and registration (ABIEC) has recorded 1,178 stolen and/or lost dogs - an average of eight per day, the SudPresse newspapers report. 2012 had already been a record year for dog disappearances, with 2,224 lost or stolen dogs, a 400% increase on 2011. The most frequently stolen breeds are Chihuahuas, followed by Jack Russells and Yorkshire terriers, the Liège branch of the royal society for the protection of animals (SRPA) says. "There is certainly a large number of dogs stolen in Belgium and sold abroad. But there is also a genuine demand in Belgium, with dogs selling for €50 on the internet," notes the association, adding that anyone who finds a dog is required to report it within four days and take the animal to a shelter.