Any pet lover out there will know how hard it is to lose an animal - especially if you think it has been stolen.
That's exactly how Sarah Wortley feels about her missing cat, Minty.
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"I've had him for nine years and he's never gone missing before. He's always with me," Sarah said.
Minty is an outdoor cat who comes to his Gloucester town home in time for dinner around 4pm every day - except for Friday August 20.
"At first I went to my neighbour because he likes to sit in their garage. But no one had seen him," Sarah explained.
She thinks someone has taken Minty as opposed to him being struck by a car or attacked by a feral animal.
"I've looked. He's as big as a Jack Russell. You'd see him if he'd been hit," she said.
He's fully microchipped but so far there have been no reports of him being found.
Sarah's suspicion of foul play heightened after her neighbour's cat went missing on August 31 and she now believes there is something sinister going on.
Billi-jean King's grey tabby, Ziggy was last seen in the front yard around 4.30pm.
When Billi-jean called her for dinner about an hour later, Ziggy was nowhere to be found.
"I called her but she didn't come. She always comes, she's just over a year old and has never gone missing before," Billy-jean said. "She knows her home and always stays in at night."
Billi-jean isn't sure what has happened to Ziggy.
"She may have been injured by a car, dog or snake and gone under a house for protection and passed away. Or someone may have stolen her but she is just a regular cat so I don't know why they would do that," Billy-jean said.
"But she always, always comes when called and she has not returned."
Ziggy is also microchipped but so far no reports of her being found.
For any lost or found animals, people can call MidCoast Council on 7955 7777.
Anne Keen
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
