Reports of paint being used to mark fences where dogs are kept as part of a dog theft ring are multiplying.
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The Register has been contacted by three people who believe their dogs were targeted.
On March 2 Madeleine Dun discovered her great Dane missing from its yard and started researching rumours on Facebook about a dog-fighting ring whose members steal large breed dogs for competition.
On Sunday Sarah Hynds woke to find her Leonburger missing from its secure yard. She had orange paint sprayed on her fence.
After learning of the paint on Ms Hynds’ fence Cathy Savaine from Nowra Hill checked her fences for paint and found five sprayed sections of bright yellow paint on her German shepherd’s enclosure.
Ms Dun said her great Dane cross was black and white and had never gone missing before.
““I looked everywhere and checked with the pound and the council rangers,” she said.
“I contacted the police and eventually had him reported as stolen.
“I feel like every day without him there is more of a chance it’s not a good thing,” she said.
Sarah Hynds’ Leonberger is a fairly rare breed in Australia with only about 200 dogs. They are a giant breed and cost about $2500 each.
“We have a border collie in the yard too,” she said.
“We heard the dogs barking in the yard at 3am but being a Saturday night and living on a main road in Bomaderry we just thought it must have been hoons going past.
“In the morning we discovered Denver missing. We drove everywhere around Bomaderry calling out for him.
“We phoned all the vets and the rangers and had his microchip listed as stolen,” Ms Hynds said.
Her housemate Tamara Jenkins said it was when the pair returned home they noticed the paint on the fence.
“Sarah just burst into tears when she saw the paint. I didn’t know what it meant. Then she told me.
“We had heard different stories about people using different colours for different sized dogs. Also heard about people walking along streets at night whistling to stir up dogs so they can mark fences where they are.
“For Denver to go missing like this is completely out of character.”
A cash reward has been offered for Denver.
At Nowra Hill Cathy Saviane saw the Facebook posts about Denver and the theory about the paint on the fences.
She owns a German shepherd pup that is already the size of a full grown dog.
“I thought I should probably check my fences for paint, but thought there was no chance anyone would do that out here," she said.
“I couldn’t believe it when I found the paint on our wire fences. It’s scary knowing someone is out there hunting down puppies.
“It’s just sick.”
That was on Sunday and then Sunday night a white van came past very slowly. I was out the front and you get to know the cars in your neighbourhood and this one was not from around here. I walked out toward the front and it took off fast.
“I phoned the police, gave them the details and they came and did a drive-by.
“I found five patches of paint on the wire fence. Each strip of paint was about 15 centimetres long. I scraped it all off straight away.
“Now I’m so worried about my dog I lock him in a cage at night inside the house. It’s horrible. He cries in their all night.
“I have a security company coming to look at installing an alarm on the fence.
“I have warned all our neighbours who have dogs,” she said.
Nowra police have encouraged anyone with information to contact them on 4421 9699.
Know more? Contact the South Coast Register on 4421 9123, or email adam.wright@fairfaxmedia.com.au.