But ARE they? The crims all seem to be caught with about a billion dogs. People are buying dogs, yes, but it seems to mostly be puppies (see all the articles on people who are now owning badly socialised and badly trained young dogs - and having to face returning to work, leaving dogs that have never been left alone before) - are the criminals just thinking 'yeah, I'll steal a bunch of dogs and sell them and make a load of money' and being unable to? I'm sure there may be a few, stupid people who've fallen for the 'got to sell the family dog now we're all unemployed and starving' ruse, but not THAT many?