A Moray family is offering a huge cash reward for the return of a beloved pet amid fears she may have been taken by a dog-fighting gang.
Jane and Bill Lannagan said 10-month-old whippet Ruby went missing from their home outside Tomintoul on Monday evening as they unpacked their shopping.
The couple, who are concerned she was taken away in a car spotted near their home, are now offering a £750 reward in exchange for the dog’s safe return.
Mrs Lannagan said: “It would be so out of character for Ruby to run away.
“We have heard a lot of stories locally about people who go around stealing dogs to use as bait to train more vicious breeds for fighting.
“But, if Ruby has been stolen with the intention of selling her on, then we want people to know what she looks like.
“Ruby is very friendly, but because she is young, she can be a bit timid around other dogs.”
The couple, who own and run the Tomintoul Art Gallery, said their suspicions were heightened when Ruby failed to return from a search for rabbits in a field near their house.
“She was due to be fed, so it was especially worrying that she didn’t return on Monday evening,” said Mrs Lannagan.
“I really believe Ruby would not run away – so she has either become disorientated somehow, or she has been taken.
“We are offering £750 for her return, which is £300 more than we paid for her.”
Ruby has been microchipped, so if she is taken to the vet she can be identified as the couple’s.
And they said that since Ruby’s disappearance their other pet dog, seven-year-old whippet Bijou, has grown despondent.
Mr Lannagan added: “We do fear she has been stolen, as there were two cars around the back of our house at the time she went missing.
“I’m not suggesting those people took her, but I’m hoping they may have seen something.
“We’re heartbroken about the whole thing.”
Anyone who has information on Ruby’s whereabouts should contact the Lannagans on 018075 80458.