The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Monifieth dog owner warns others after pet stolen, but Betty is now home safe.
Valuable Tibetan terrier safely returned after harrowing search, prompting couple to urge others to reassess home arrangements and secure properties
“I would urge people not to be complacent and look closely at what measures they can take. MURRAY SIMPSON
The owners of a young dog believed to have been stolen from their home are urging people to review security arrangements to keep their beloved pets safe.
Murray Simpson and Michelle Bond spoke out after their two-year-old Tibetan terrier Betty disappeared from their Monifieth property between midnight and 6am yesterday.
Mr Simpson said: “We have two dogs who have access to a secure area, and both were fine when we went to bed around midnight, but when I got up at 6am, Betty was gone.
“We were absolutely distraught and I reported it to the police, and immediately started asking around the area and looked for CCTV camera locations to see if any of the cameras might have recorded anything, but I was drawing a blank.
Tibetan terrier pups can sell for up £1,000, and the couple feared the worst.
“My partner put out an appeal on social media, which quickly went viral, and by late morning, we got a call to say she had been found a couple of miles away and taken to Brown Street Kennels.”
“She was frightened and in filthy condition, but we were so relieved that she was safe.
“Of course we are very grateful to Brown Street Kennels for keeping her, and they were also very thorough about carrying out identity checks on us before giving Betty back.”
Mr Simpson added it would be impossible for Betty to have escaped, suggesting that a third party was involved.
He said: “There was no way she could have got out herself as there is a six-foot wall and two gates to get through, and both were closed when I inspected them in the morning.
“We may never know exactly what happened, but it seems likely that either Betty was stolen, and was dumped after she became too hot to handle because of the social media posts, or it has also been suggested that she was let out deliberately, as some kind of prank by a group of youths who were seen in the area.”
The couple, who both work for the Scottish Ambulance Service, have vowed to boost their home security arrangements to keep their two dogs safe, and say that no-one should take their surroundings for granted.
“As a first step we will be installing security lighting and reviewing other aspects of security.
“This has been very emotional, and while we would like to thank everyone who helped get Betty home. I would also urge people not to be complacent and look closely at what measures they can take to keep their pets safe.”