A dog reunited with her owners after being stolen more than a year ago had been used for breeding, the couple have said.
Springer spaniel Trigger was taken along with kennel-mate Maggie from a Highland estate near Kingussie during July last year.
While Maggie was found wandering the streets of Crieff four days later, there had been no further sign of Trigger.
Having almost given up hope of being reunited with their dog, Laura and Torben Jessen were shocked to receive news this week that she had been found tied to a post in Highland Perthshire, just 30 minutes from their home.
Trigger was tied up with a frayed rope just off the A9 near Trinafour.
The four-year-old was in a less-than-optimal condition and showed obvious signs of having had pups very recently, as she was still producing milk.
Laura believes in the time the spaniel had been missing it’s possible she was bred twice and was probably dumped, as puppy prices tumbled following lockdown.
The 37-year-old said: “We said in our appeals that she’s been neutered.
“Obviously, she hadn’t but (we said) anything to get her back.
“Maggie was so old that when she was dumped we knew they were probably taken for breeding.
“She was 11, which is far too old for pups.
“The price of pups has gone flatline so there’s no money in it any more.
“I don’t know if she had small litters.
“If she only had three or four pups, they wouldn’t have got much money.
“When she was taken you’re talking £1,500 for a pup and now it’s £700.”
A9 used as thieving highway
Laura also believes the thieves are using the A9 as a main route through Scotland because Trigger was taken and dumped at different locations along the arterial road.
“They at least had a smidgeon of decency to dump her at a gamekeeper,” she said.
“When we were sent video from the keeper that found her we weren’t sure it was her.
“It was hard to believe it was her.
“It’s unbelievably amazing to get her back and we are over the moon.
“She only has eyes for Torben since she’s been back but she’s really come out of her shell, even overnight.”
Back to work for Trigger
Torben, a gamekeeper on the Pitmain estate near Kingussie, said Trigger was one of his working dogs and she seemed keen to get back out in the field.
He said: “Trigger helps me.
“She’s a gun dog and I use her all the time for looking after pheasants and on shoot days.
“She’s absolutely going back into the field.
“I will have to monitor her but I took her out this morning and you could tell some of the old Trigger was there.
“She wanted to hunt straight away – even though I don’t think she’s been exercised for the last year.
“You can see the way she walks, she has no muscle in her front legs any more.
“I’m delighted to have her back. She’s a working tool and you can’t do the job without her.”
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