A Dunedin family is set to put down its injured guinea pig today as police fear family pets are being stolen to order.
The Pettigrew family went out to feed their 3-year-old guinea pig Thomas only to find him, his hutch and his bowl missing from their front yard in Glenleith on Monday morning.
However, the pet was found in their yard in Garden Pl the next day.
Rachel Pettigrew said Thomas was found injured in a sandpit in the yard. His injuries included a ruptured eyeball, swollen back and nose injuries.
She believed the incident was suspicious because the sandpit would have been difficult for a guinea pig to enter, she said.
''We strongly suspect he was intentionally returned.''
The hutch and bowl were still missing.
To remove Thomas' damaged eyeball would cost up to $1000 so the family made the difficult decision to euthanise their pet.
The incident had been ''upsetting and confusing'' for her children, Freya (13), Aila (11), Felix (9) and Amos (5).
''We had kids crying with sadness on Monday and then crying with joy on Tuesday.''
The family were upset Thomas would be euthanised today but were grateful to have the extra days with him.
The incident was ''unsettling'' because someone had the audacity to steal from the close community living in the quiet cul-de-sac.
She was appreciative police were investigating.
A string of pet thefts in the Glenleith area were reported to police in recent days.
Senior Sergeant Ben Butterfield said as well as the guinea pig, four rabbits had been reported stolen from the area.
Two rabbits were stolen from a Leithton Close property overnight on June 9.
The thieves returned the following night and stole two more.
In a third theft at the address, the cage for the rabbits was stolen on Tuesday night.
The guinea pig Thomas was stolen from a nearby property.
''Obviously, this is pretty strange,'' Snr Sgt Butterfield said.
Police suspected the addresses had been targeted for these animals.
''It's obviously a concern for us that someone is out there taking people's pets.
''We would suspect that because these two lots of animals have been taken in such close proximity that someone is targeting them,'' he said.
''Therefore, we believe that someone must know something about this because these animals have been stolen to order or stolen for purpose.
It was obviously distressing for the families and children involved, Snr Sgt Butterfield said.
-Dunedin police (03) 471-4800, Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.
-Additional reporting by Timothy Brown
