"Dognap" has been in the news. OED has 1939.
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Take a look at the 1934 "dognap" case involving the Yale bulldog. Perhaps,
when Yale publications get online, we'll find early examples there?
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_http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/382627p-324860c.html_
(http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/382627p-324860c.html)
The saga of a cancer-stricken Manhattan teenager whose beloved pooch was
allegedly dognapped has a tail-wagging ending.
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(GOOGLE NEWS)
_Cancer teen: I want my doggie_
(http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/380580p-323005c.html)
New York Daily News, NY - <NOBR>Jan 6,
A Manhattan teenager suffering from cancer is charging her little Yorkshire
terrier Hershe was dognapped by the girlfriend of a convicted felon - a
family ...
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(OED)
dognapping, vbl. n.
colloq. (orig. U.S.).
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The stealing of dogs, either for a reward or ransom paid by their owners, or
for sale.
1939 Sun (Baltimore) 15 Sept. 15/2 The American Humane Association received
today a plan for nation-wide identification of dogs by ‘nose-printing’ to
eliminate ‘dognapping’. 1955 _W. W. DENLINGER_
(http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-d.html#w-w-denlinger) Compl. Boston I. 48 This dog..sired eight
champions. Among them was Champion Kid Boots Ace..who figured in a
dognapping case. 1969 New Scientist 20 Feb. 386/3 Dog-napping, when the pet is
abducted not for sale but for ransom, is also developing in the States. 1973 _T.
PYNCHON_ (http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-p3.html#t-pynchon) Gravity's
Rainbow I. 46 Why's he here, then, assisting at yet another dognapping? 1984
Christian Science Monitor 5 June 25 (heading) Collie stars in a tale of
dog-napping and danger.
Also dognapper, one who steals dogs; dognap n., the act of dognapping; also
as v. trans., to steal (a dog).
1942 _BERREY_ (http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-b2.html#berrey) &
VAN DEN BARK Amer. Thes. Slang §461/9 Dognaper, one who steals dogs for the
reward. Ibid. §490/2 Dognap, the theft of a dog. Ibid. §490/8 Dognap, to steal a
dog, usually to hold it for the reward. 1945 Philadelphia Inquirer 16 Dec.
S4/8 ‘Dog-nappers’, a dishonest group which steal a valuable dog and sell for
a high profit. 1947 in Amer. Speech (1948) XXIII. 28 Sidney [Nebraska]
police believe the dog may have been dognapped but later escaped. 1969 New
Scientist 20 Feb. 386/3 A leading authority on pets has been moved to demand the
death penalty for dog-nappers. 1978 _J. WAMBAUGH_
(http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-w.html#j-wambaugh) Black Marble iii. 26 There were high-wattage
security lights..to safeguard Skinner Kennels from prowling dognappers.
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(PROQUEST & NEWSPAPERARCHIVE)
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_INCIDENTS IN CATO'S LIFE.; IN WHICH CATO HAS THE INDIGESTION. _
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=120827076&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&V
Type=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1137260730&clientId=65882)
The Washington Post (1877-1954). Washington, D.C.: Aug 25, 1912. p. SM4 (1
page) :
IN WHICH CATO IS KIDNAPPED, OR, RATHER, DOGNAPPED.
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_Notes of the Current Magazines_
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=101604359&SrchMode=1&sid=7&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=11
37261014&clientId=65882)
New York Times (1857-Current file). New York, N.Y.: Jun 29, 1924. p. BR15 (1
page) :
..."Dognaped," by Courtney Ryley...
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_The Oakland Tribune_
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=j91JOupTOn+KID/6NLMW2nreIbdD+hIaY0uM25SDVUlR5JDU1Gr0RkIF+CsZYmrz) _Monday,
April 12, 1926_
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Search.aspx?Search=dognaped+AND+date:1926-04-12) _Oakland,_
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Search.aspx?Search=dognaped+AND+cityid:21100+AND+stateid:14+AND+range:1759-1930)
_California_
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Search.aspx?Search=dognaped+AND+stateid:14+AND+range:1759-1930) ...... who confessed to the "DOGNAPED" following
their cap- ture in San Mateo for another of- ... ..
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_MAN ACCUSED AS DOGNAPER; Wife, Suing For Divorce, Says Theft of Police Dogs
Too Much to be Borne _
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=1&did=465343302&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1137260730&c
lientId=65882)
Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los Angeles, Calif.: Apr 5, 1928. p.
8 (1 page)
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_Dognaped!; Where Is Timmie; Wonders Owner of Pup. _
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=9&did=244826692&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=10&VInst=P
ROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1137260870&clientId=65882)
The Washington Post (1877-1954). Washington, D.C.: Mar 1, 1934. p. 7 (1
page)
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_$1,000 "Dognaping" Baffles Detectives; Owner Fails to Contact Terrier's
Abductors. _
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=3&did=250955482&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1137260730&clientId=65882)
The Washington Post (1877-1954). Washington, D.C.: Mar 2, 1934. p. 12 (1
page)
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_New Haven Takes Court Action._
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=2&did=93755001&SrchMode=1&sid=7&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1137
261113&clientId=65882)
By The Associated Press.. New York Times (1857-Current file). New York,
N.Y.: Mar 18, 1934. p. 27 (1 page):
NEW HAVEN, Conn., March 17.--Yale issued an ultimatum today that unless its
dognaped mascot, Handsome Dan 2d, is returned by Monday, legal action will be
taken. From Harvard came the offer: "The bulldog for the ibiz."