11/23/2005

Dog lovers mad over chihuahua thefts
Reuters, TOKYO— Japanese pet owners are howling over a spate of thefts of chihuahuas, the country’s most popular dog thanks to a series of TV commercials that starred one of the cuddly Mexican canines. The dog-nappings, from condominiums and houses across Tokyo over several months, show the dark side of a pet boom in Japan, where the number of dogs and cats exceeds the number of children. So strong is demand for chihuahuas that supply can’t keep up, allowing unscrupulous individuals a chance to collar part of the market….the lovable lapdogs are much easier to sell than stolen jewels and, with a price tag of some $2,000 (1,200 pounds) almost as enticing…..

“Loppi” the chihuahua has been a hit for the Japanese loansharking company “Aiful”. Loppi has also boom in the dog-napping to meet the demand for rat-dogs. Oddly, Loopi’s first commercial, ‘Returning home’, was about a missing dog before the spate of dog disappearances.
Watch the commercials…
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