A mystery dog owner has racked up a £10,000 bill after taking his three dogs to kennels on Christmas Eve 2018 and failing to collect them since.
The non-paying customer booked the pooches into Happas Canine Centre, near Forfar in Angus, 19 months ago saying he'd collect them in "two or three weeks time".
He told Carron Jenkins, who runs the centre, he was away at sea but would transfer the money before disappearing into thin air, Daily Record reports.
The cost of food, board, vet’s bills and medicine for Zara, an eight-year-old Chinese Crested, Malti, a 13-year-old cross breed, and Buttons, an eight-year-old Chihuahua has reached the eye-watering sum which Ms Jenkins has been forced to fund.
Malti and Buttons have health issues and need regular trips to the vet and expensive medication which Carron has been paying for as she has been unable to trace their owner.
Do you know who the mystery owner is? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk
She said: “He arrived with his three dogs on December 24, 2018 and told us he was leaving them with us for a few weeks,” she said.
“He said he would pay when he picked them up, which was fine as he had put the dogs in before and we trusted him.
“After a few weeks, we hadn’t heard from him and we tried to contact him on his mobile and email.
“Eventually, he told us he was away to sea and would transfer money to us but of course, this never happened, there was always an excuse.”
Carron said she has received emails supposedly from their mystery owner telling her how much he loved his dogs but he was away on business.
However, she claims he has been seen in and around Forfar by several people.
“He has never made an attempt to see his dogs at all,” she said.
“We’ve sent letters to the address on the contract but they were all sent back.”
When Carron contacted the Scottish SSPCA, she was told that because the dogs were being cared for the animal rescue charity couldn't help.
The man has now stopped contacting Carron leaving her with no choice but to find them a new home.
She said: “Malti and Buttons are both on medication and I’ve had to take them to the vet numerous times.
“These wee dogs need a home together or they can stay with us but we desperately need funding for their food, medication, board and any future vet bills.
“Their place isn’t in a kennel but in a home.”
Anyone interested in rehoming the dogs can contact Happas Canine Centre but Carron is adamant the trio must stay together.
The centre has started a fundraiser for the dogs via Paypal. For more details, see its Facebook page.
