Dog nappers on the prowl

Recent reports of stolen pets in and around Colombo, have caused alarm among pet lovers.

Daily Mirror Life spoke to Mithun Liyanage, a dog owner who recently lost his dog in an extremely disturbing manner.

Mithun says, “My dog Bella was seen trying to cross the road in front of my house on the 19th of July after creeping through the gate. Three students from NSBM had seen and rescued her before she got knocked by a vehicle. Not knowing where she came from, they walked down Arthur's Place (the road adjoining our house along High Level Rd) looking for a house that she might have come from. While doing so, a car (white in colour, with a white interior, slightly modified with a prominent spoiler) had pulled over beside them.There were two men inside the car (Passenger 1 – in his late twenties, fairly short, fat, curly hair wearing spectacles. Passenger 2 – thin with spiked hair). Passanger 1 had told the students that Bella was his dog and to hand her over to him. They reluctantly handed over the dog to him but did notice that the dog didn't seem happy to go with this man.The car then disappeared down Arthur's place with Bella. The students had seen my poster and had recognised the dog and called me. The man must have been watching the dog as he had very confidently driven up to these girls and asked for the dog and so he had to have known that the dog did not belong to these girls.”

Another dog owner, Sebastian, who lost his beloved Rottweiler in Mount Lavinia is on a frantic search for his pooch. He says “The thieves broke into my house and took nothing except my dog.”

There've also been two known instances when a Terrier and a Persian cat were stolen and then brought back when hefty sums were announced as rewards.

All pet owners should be extra vigilant in light of this growing trend, and make sure their pets don't fall prey to such heinous crimes.