An owner has spoken of his disgust after thieves attempted to steal his two valuable working dogs in the middle of the night.
Mark Duncan’s black labradors were left wandering the streets after the would-be dognappers were disturbed by a neighbour.
Mr Duncan, who lives in Blairgowrie, said he felt “disgusted” by the “invasion of privacy”.
“The dogs had been walked for the evening and placed back in their kennel, which is double locked and very secure,” he said.
“It was around 3am, I woke up because I heard the dogs barking at the front of the house.
“At first it didn’t register, then I realised what was happening so ran downstairs and called them in.
“I found a bone that looked like it was used to pacify them as they were taken from their kennel.
“My neighbour had been out walking his dog and I think that it is possible that he disturbed the thief because he saw my dogs but no one else.”
Mr Duncan said the episode has left him shaken.
“I have been lucky because you hear of so many stories about this sort of thing happening,” he said.
“A fully-trained working dog can be worth up to £5,000 so you have to be mindful at this time of year.
“When you are targeted, there must be lots of planning people must be watching you and getting to know your working pattern.
“This invasion of privacy really worries me. You think that you live in a good area and it won’t happen to you but it shows that you just can’t take anything for granted.”
A police spokesman confirmed that officers had received a call to the area.
He said: “A call was received just after 3am to report an attempted theft of two black labradors. At this time it is unknown who attempted the theft and inquires are continuing.”
Working dogs kennelled in Perthshire have been targeted by thieves in the past.
In August, Lakeland terrier Bracken was stolen just months after a similar dog, named Bud, was taken from the same kennels at the Lochearnhead site.