SEYMOUR police are investigating the theft of three valuable farm dogs, stolen from a property at Highlands, overnight.
The three dogs, valued at $14,000, belonged to Victorian Yard Utility Farm Dog Association president Brian Leahy.
"I put so much time and effort into it, I feel I've had a bit of a kick in the guts. - I am lost without the dogs," Mr Leahy said.
"People don't want to spent time with pups any more, they don't want to train them, they want to get working, properly trained dogs.
"I don't have a trained dog on the property, which has put me in a difficult situation, as I run quite a lot of stock," he said.
He said he ran 2,500 sheep and about 400 cattle, at his Glenlyon property.
The three animals are Kuta, a black and tan dog, with white crest on his chest, Jodie, a red and tan bitch and Gus, another black and tan dog.
He said one of the dogs was going to be used for breeding, while another one was going to be sold.
"Someone knew where there, as they were 400m off the road, they came in specifically to steal dogs," Mr Leahy said.
"Are we meant to put a padlock over their cage every time we put them in at night?" he said.
The dogs were microchipped and Mr Leahy said he had notified all the members of the Yard Dog Association, so selling them would be very difficult.
Seymour police Senior Constable Jennifer Horgan appealed for any witnesses to call her, or Crimestoppers.
"We've spoken to him and suggested he lists the microchips as stolen," Senior Constable Horgan said.
"We are hoping the dogs turn up, or someone hears something, and we can get them back to him," she said.
Anyone with information call call Seymour police on (03) 5735 0200.
