The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Heartbreak over missing dog.
Owner can’t get over loss of her beloved terrier Haggis
An Arbroath woman who is convinced her dog was stolen just before Christmas has spoken of her ongoing heartbreak.
Mena Castledine, 66, is certain her six-year-old Scottish terrier, Haggis, was taken while she was walking him at the Guynd, near Arbroath, in December.
She was visiting friends in the area the week before Christmas, and while on the walk, she saw a Land Rover drive past.
She thought nothing of it until she began to call for her beloved pet and he did not appear.
Devastated Mena said: “The road I was on was just a dirt track so I thought the car was something to do with the nearby farms and I didn’t give it any attention.
“But that was the last time I saw Haggis and I’m convinced the driver of the car took him.
“The police know about it but I am beginning to give up hope of finding him now as it’s been almost four months. For it to have happened just before Christmas was devastating. I have spent all my money in my effort to find him.
“I thought I would get over it but I just can’t. I need closure and I need to find out what happened.”
It was recently revealed that dog thefts have shot up in recent years with 45 dogs stolen every day across the UK.
Mena hopes that, with it recently having been Pet Theft Awareness Week in March, greater exposure of the issue could lead to her finding her lost pet.
“I have been doing lots of investigating since Haggis went missing”, she said.
“I believe that the person who took him steals dogs and sells them on for breeding purposes.
“I even offered a £200 reward for his return but I think he would be worth a lot more to these people for breeding.
“Last month there was a lot of exposure about pet thefts and I just hope that something can be done to stop it happening. “I feel like this is my last hope. “Even if I don’t get him back, it will be a warning to other dog lovers not to let their dogs out of sight even if like me they are with them.”
In September last year, Dundee dog Rosco was eventually reunited with his owner, Leonard Ormond, after being stolen from outside his home the month before.
I thought I would get over it but I just can’t. I need closure and I need to find out what happened.
MENA CASTLEDINE