A gun dog worth £1,000 was taken from a farm at Eccup on the Harewood estate and police fear the incident could be the first of many particularly after an earlier spate in February was reported through the Bring Back Our Dogs campaign in the Wetherby News.
Sgt Paul Bilton of Wetherby Police said: "Nationally, it's a problem. For various breeds of dogs that are valuable, theft is on the increase.
"We're now concerned that animal thieves may be working on us. We have a lot of farms and working dogs across the Wetherby district and we don't want a spate of dog thefts if we can avoid it."
The 15-month-old English springer spaniel bitch disappeared between 9pm on Sunday and 7am on Monday and owner David Francis said he and his family, including son Josh, eight, were devastated by their loss.

Pub trade being hit by price hikes
SALES at pubs in Wetherby have tumbled over the last three years according to a town landlord.
Following a Wetherby Pubwatch meeting this week, landlords said they believed both the smoking ban and the recent economic slow-down were just some of the factors behind the drop in customer numbers.
Another major factor, according to Lloyd Gough, manager of Wetherby's Bar Thr3 on Market Place, was the low price of alcohol in supermarkets, which taxation prevents bars from competing with.
Mr Gough said: "This government is killing the trade."

Massive haul of steel stolen
POLICE are appealing for information following the theft of £18,500 worth of steel plates from Marston Moor Business Park in Tockwith.
Thieves stole 22-tonnes of abrasion resistant steel plates in assorted sizes and thickness overnight between 5pm on Friday, July 11 and 8am on Saturday, July 12.

First stage wind farm plan gets
go-ahead
A DEVELOPER has been given the go-ahead to build the first stage of its controversial Aberford-based wind farm.
Leeds city councillors voted last September to reject an application by Banks Developments for permission to put up a 60-metre 'monitoring mast' on green belt land at Hook Moor, alongside the A1 at Aberford.
But Durham-based Banks subsequently lodged an appeal against that decision with the Government's Planning Inspectorate.
The inspectorate allowed the appeal this week.

Tributes paid to matriarch of legendary racing family
RACING personalities have paid tribute to Monica Dickinson, the matriarch of the legendary Yorkshire racing family, who has died aged 83.
Mrs Dickinson, who lived near Wetherby and had suffered ill health in recent years, was praised by former champion jockey, John Francome, who rode a number of big-race victories for her.
He said: "She was a lovely lady; she always had a twinkle in her eye. She was a proper horsewoman, a great point-to-point rider and showjumper, and always wanted her horses to enjoy themselves."

Bus firm increases fares
PASSENGERS on First Buses in the Wetherby district will pay about eight per cent more for their tickets from this Sunday.
The company said increasing fuel prices had forced it to put its prices up, but passenger transport authority Metro has accused First of treating its customers with contempt.
Metro chairman, Coun Chris Greaves, said: "We know that both First and Arriva have secured fuel prices significantly below the current rate until at least the end of 2008, but they are using the current high prices as an excuse to impose another price rise on passengers."

Burkha wearing muslim refused on bus
A BUS company has apologised after a muslim family of nine was stopped from boarding a bus to Leeds.
The Alhajeri family were refused entry onto the Transdev Harrogate and District No 36 bus from Harewood to Leeds on Monday evening, because the mother and eldest daughters were wearing burkhas.
They had been on a family day out visiting the house and gardens on holiday from their home country of Kuwait.

Inspired to fly 3,000 miles around country by stepdaughter
A MEMBER of Sherburn Aero Club is planning to fly a distance most people would only complete in the comfort of a chartered airline.
But when John Milnes travels 3,000 miles around the coast of Britain, he will be doing it in a two-seater plane with only a photographer for company.
As well as stopping to sleep at Haverfordwest on the first night and RAF Benbecula on the second, he will have to refuel several times each day.

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