Dog Owners Violently Attacked by People Trying to Steal Their Pets

Alli Wyatt purchased her French bulldog mix, Rigby, last year because she thought he'd make a great pet for the Billings, Montana, family.

But the unthinkable happened in September when one of Wyatt's daughters let Rigby out in the backyard while Wyatt was at work. A woman grabbed the dog and drove off, leaving the family devastated in only a matter of seconds.

"She opened the gate, and he's a very friendly dog and wanted the attention," Wyatt told Newsweek. "She grabbed him and put him in her minivan and drove off."

What Wyatt learned during the investigation that followed was that French bulldogs are the most stolen breed in the U.S., with some thieves violently attacking dog owners during the robbery. The dogs are costly, with potential owners willing to pay thousands to bring one home. Their small stature and friendly nature make them a prime target.

Although Wyatt eventually found Rigby through the help of an anonymous tip and the Billings Police Department, the experience has left her and her family with a lingering sense of fear.

A 'Really Good Target for Thieves'

Tom Sharp, the CEO of microchip and pet recovery service American Kennel Club Reunite, told Newsweek that French bulldogs, commonly known as "Frenchies, have been the top breed for pet thefts since 2020. In 2019, French bulldogs were the third most stolen breed reported to AKC Reunite. They topped the list as the most stolen breed in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Sharp said the breed is on track to be the most stolen one again this year.

Other popular breeds among thieves are Yorkshire terriers, Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, Siberian huskies, shih tzus, English bulldogs, golden retrievers and Pomeranians, according to AKC Reunite's data.

At times, the thefts can be extremely violent, leaving the owners physically wounded.

In 2021, Ryan Fischer, Lady Gaga's dog walker, was shot while walking the singer's French bulldogs in Hollywood, California. The suspect stole two dogs, but they were returned two days later after Lady Gaga offered a $500,000 reward, PopSugar reported.

A similar situation happened in Washington, D.C., in late November, when Teffiney Worthy was walking her French bulldog puppy, Hendrix. Worthy had just returned home when two black cars pulled up, and a man got out and ran toward Worthy and her dog.

The man was armed with what appeared to be a Taser and told Worthy, "Give me your dog or I'll kill you," Washington TV station WUSA reported.

Worthy was reunited with Hendrix a few days later after a woman contacted her on Instagram and said she bought the dog through a third party.

Newsweek reached out to Worthy through Facebook for comment.

Worthy's story is only one of many cases in which owners were violently attacked or threatened while thieves stole their French bulldogs. In April 2022, four suspects entered a motel room in Culver City, California, and displayed handguns to three people inside before forcing them to disrobe and pistol-whipping them across the head and face. Then, the suspects stole their cellphones and a 2-month-old French bulldog puppy, KTTV in Los Angeles reported.

Thieves also have stolen dogs right out of the owners' homes. One suspect broke into a South Carolina home in May and stuffed the owners' two French bulldog puppies into a pillowcase before taking off, WJCL in Savannah, Georgia, reported.

In some cases, the thefts are part of something darker.

"We are hearing more cases of criminal rings, criminal gangs who have been discovered as having stolen dogs, and often Frenchies are the No. 1 dog they want to take," Sharp said.

He went on: "They're expensive dogs because they're desirable and also difficult to breed. They're cute, they're small, they're easy to pick up and run away with, and they're really sweet dogs. So that combination of factors makes them a really good target for thieves."

Sharp added that potential owners could easily spend upward of $3,000 for a French bulldog, especially if it's a puppy.

"You can imagine if someone steals one and sells it on the black market, they will make good money," he said.

French bulldog thefts have more than doubled since the breed first topped the stolen pet list in 2020, with 55 cases reported to AKC Reunite. Its data showed that 99 stolen French bulldogs were reported to the organization in 2021, and 136 were reported in 2022.

During the same time frame, no other dog breed had the same rise in thefts. Between 2021 and 2022, Labrador retriever thefts remained stable, German shepherd thefts dropped, and shih tzu and Yorkshire terrier thefts rose slightly but couldn't compare to the theft increase French bulldogs experienced.

Why Are French Bulldogs So Expensive?

French bulldog puppies can easily cost up to $3,000, primarily because of difficulties associated with breeding and small litter sizes.

Female French bulldogs have narrow hips, which makes birthing difficult. Often, veterinarians will have to perform a Cesarean section on the dog to safely deliver the puppies, of which there are usually only two or three at a time. Breeding costs and small litter sizes contribute to the puppies' high price.

A Lasting Negative Impact

Rigby's theft in Billings was one of 13 dog thefts in the city so far this year. Only one other dog was a French bulldog, which was eventually returned to its owner.

Billings police described the crimes as "impulsive."

"Possible motivations could be anything," Billings Police Department Administrative Lieutenant Matthew Lennick told Newsweek. "If the dog is young enough to sell, then there is a market for it. Otherwise...generally it is impulsive, and the suspect just wants the dog, so they take it."

Wyatt said she is still uncertain about the motive behind Rigby's theft. She pressed charges after reuniting with Rigby three weeks after he was stolen, but she has not received an update about the case.

Although the family is thrilled to have their dog back, they've been forced to make changes to their routine to ensure his safety.

"I don't want him in the backyard during the day anymore," Wyatt said, adding that she plans to install security cameras and locks on the back gate. "If he is outside, someone's outside with him."

Rigby was traumatized by the ordeal. He's acted "clingy" since his return in October, and he struggles with "abandonment issues."

"He was very skittish," Wyatt said about Rigby on the day they were reunited. "He knew who I was...but he was pretty scared. I felt like he had lost weight also. He was very timid."