Dog 'stolen from hammock by two men who fled on speedboat' from Inchtavannach Island in Loch Lomond

An appeal has been launched by a devastated dog owner to trace her beloved pooch after she “stolen by two men on a speedboat”.

Frances Curley, from Troon, was camping on Inchtavannach Island in Loch Lomond on Sunday, June 19, with her border terrier, named Skye.

The two-and-a-half-year-old partially sighted dog went missing while resting in a hammock while Ms Curley was cooking shortly after 4pm.

During the initial search for Skye, Ms Curley said that two paddleboarders said that they had witnessed two men take a little brown dog into a speedboat and leave the island.

Ms Curley said that there is “no doubt” that Skye was taken.

“The island was searched twice, she is scared of her own shadow,” she said, “When I was training her, I played hide and seek to test her, when she realised I was not in range of her, she would sniff her way back to where I was hiding – always.”

She is now appealing for the two men, who were allegedly in the speedboat, to come forward “even if they are just innocent parties with their own dog” to rule them out of the search.

She is also asking that anyone who was on Inchtavannach Island, or around Loch Lomond on Sunday and who may have witnessed someone with Skye to come forward.

Skye is microchipped and is correctly registered to her owner. The database has been alerted that the dog is missing and possibly stolen.

At the time she went missing, Skye was wearing a pink and white striped collar with two tags – one with Ms Curley’s contact details and one which reads “fur ever yours”.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We can confirm that enquiries are ongoing into the theft of a border terrier dog from the Loch Lomond area.

“The theft took place on Inchmoan Island between 4.15pm and 4.25pm on Sunday, June 19. Police are making enquiries locally and with the National Park Authority regarding a white speedboat possibly being used by persons involved in this theft.

“Anyone with information which could assist officers should call 101, quoting incident 0213 of June 20, 2022. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, if you wish to remain anonymous.”