While it is easy to see the humorous side of Thursday Star's lead story, which outlined how a shih-tzu that was apparently 'dognapped' while its owners were not looking was eventually returned for a ransom, it is doubtful that the person who coughed up the money for the pooch found it funny.

And when one takes away the notion that it is just a dog so what, it is easily realised that there is an emotional impact, even more so as it is reported that the dog was in a dishevelled state when shown to the owner on digital camera.

Although it reads like something out of a movie, it must have had a severe impact on the doting owner.

The veterinarian interviewed for the story said that the persons who took the dog can be charged with a criminal offence, however, there is no way to measure the impact of the loss of the dog, and the negotiations for its return on the owner and levy a charge for that. Because it is this very emotional bond that allows the dognappers to command a fee for their dastardly act in the first place.

It is distressing that, in addition to having to be careful about one's car and cell phone and other personal belongings, those who have precious and sometime precocious pooches will now have to worry about them as well. It is not the first time that the STAR has reported such an activity and, chances are, it is underreported, just like rape.

And, like that act of savagery, it must leave a feeling of vulnerability that is hard to shake off.