"Stealing A Dog Is The Same As Kidnapping A Person"

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.