Missing pet in Fife leads to dog napping ring fears

Fears of a dog napping ring in the east of Scotland were played down by police as an owner warned others to be on their guard amid fears that thieves have targeted a high-value breed at the home of a well-known show dog breeder in Fife.

Heartbroken dog handler and show judge Leanda Loosemore (24) appealed for Courier readers to help her find six-year-old Shetland Sheepdog Annah, who disappeared from her locked kennel near Cupar on Friday.

She fears that because she and her great grandmother Doris Scott (82) have been well known in show dog circles for decades that Annah, from a long line of champion pedigrees, may have been stolen to order for breeding.

It comes as police warned dog owners in other parts of the country to be on the alert following reports a criminal gang is marking homes for pet theft.

Blobs of paint have been discovered on gates and doors in south Ayrshire, but police in Fife said: “Despite often misleading stories found on social networking sites, the theft of dogs in Fife is extremely rare.”

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