Sad reality in many countries @retiredinsamar in all the years we have owned dogs, after the first two ( six dogs over a 35 years period). We had to make a quick decision to allow dogs to sleep in doors due to the theft of dogs at the time.
Many are stolen for dog fighting, dog breeding and yes many most probably taken as food. Feral cats are fed by caring individuals in the village, caught 'fixed' and set free again at the cost to private caring individuals.
Abandoned dogs battle and do not appear to settle as easily, it is a hard decision to take car of them with rabies outbreaks a continual warnings, so normally qualified staff capture them, most end up being put to sleep.
Before getting a pet one must really be sure that this is what they want, I agree with you it is totally heat breaking and carries on all the time.
What country are you living in where you experience the dog theft. Thanks for your contribution.
South Africa, it happens every so often.
I suppose it happens everywhere, just a lot more in the third world.