Dr. Brian Gibbs says third time a poodle was stolen from yard

Scarlet has been missing from her home since Thursday.

Dr. Brian Gibbs believes his black standard poodle was stolen from their acreage north of Saskatoon. This isn't the first poodle to go missing from his property — it's the third in the past six years. 

The veterinarian believes someone is targeting his home and taking the dogs to sell them. It's unsettling to him. 

"Pets become part of our family and for a lot of us they are like children," he said. "We love them and we spend a lot of time identifying with them and playing with them and doing things with them so it is very difficult."

Since having pets stolen in the past, he said he made sure the fence had a lock. When he left for work in the morning, Scarlet and Duogan, a malamute, were in the yard. 

When he got home Scarlet was missing, but Duogan was still there. Gibbs has contacted the RCMP. 

"Well there were truck treads up to the gate, that had treads different from our vehicles, and they were fresh," he said. "It looked like someone pulled right up to the gate so they could stand up on the bumper and reach over, or climb over and grab the dog."

Gibbs said he doesn't know why someone would steal his poodles, but he suspects they are being sold.  The dog is valued at $500 to $1,000, he said. 

"Poodles are a commodity and they're nice dogs."

Reward offered

Gibbs is offering a $1,000 reward for the return of Scarlet. 

He said since a Facebook post about the dog's disappearance was posted on social media, he and his wife have received calls and messages from all over the country. So far, none of the tips have panned out.

He said the dog is micro-chipped.

Gibbs said anyone with information should call Central Animal Hospital in Saskatoon at (306) 374-5252.