An Elgin woman has spoken of her distress after her treasured show dog was “stolen”.
Margaret Strachan’s distinctive Blue Merle Australian Shepherd, Casper, went missing in Pinefield Crescent more than a week ago.
Searches have been carried out until midnight in the intervening period as his owners attempt to trace the missing member of their family. A reward has now been offered to encourage reports of sightings.
The disappearance has been particularly hard on Mrs Strachan’s 16-month-old daughter Errin.
Mrs Strachan said: “Errin absolutely loves her dogs. She comes to all the dog shows with us and is always clapping and hugging them.
“She really does know that he’s not here. It sounds like she has tried to say his name a couple of times.”
Casper went missing at about 6am on April 24. While out for a walk, he ran off in pursuit of a Boxer dog and has not been seen since.
With several distinctive features, including no tail, one bright blue eye and one brown eye and a vet’s cone on his head, Mrs Strachan is convinced Casper would have attracted plenty of attention.
However, there have been no sightings and the micro-chipped dog has not been returned through a rescue centre.
More than 1000 people have now joined the search online to coordinate efforts to get him back home.
Mrs Strachan said: “We are working on the basis that he has been stolen. There’s just been no sign of him and nobody has handed him in.
“I’ve been getting lots of calls. Somebody thought they saw him in Portsoy, I received another call from St Cyrus and another from Falkirk. I have got to follow up anything.
“Somebody suggested setting up a Facebook page to fund a reward. I would never ask people for money, but all these people want to help get him back. The support has been incredible.”
Casper has been displayed at dog shows and Mrs Strachan believes his star quality may have prompted an opportunist thief to take him.
She said: “He looks unique, totally different to anything else. There are not many of them around.”
