An Adelaide psychologist fears her highly trained therapy dog, named Uggie, has been stolen from her Frewville business.
Key points:
- A therapy dog has gone missing from the Adelaide Phobia Clinic
- Former guide dog Uggie has not been seen since last Thursday
- His owner fears he has been stolen — and urges anyone who has seen him to contact police
Sarah Sheppard said the eight-year-old black Labrador went missing from the yard of the Adelaide Phobia Clinic last Thursday during her lunch break at about 1.30pm.
“It’s really out of character for him to wander off so we are just worried that someone may have taken him,” she said.
The Lab has been a valued member of the team at Sheppard Psychology for four years, helping clients with dog phobias to become comfortable around dogs.
“Uggie sat in on all of the sessions with my clients, and for people without a dog phobia he was just a soothing, calming presence,” Ms Sheppard said.
“He has a very gentle, calm nature. He is a really friendly, loving dog.
“He’s very caring, he always welcomes clients when they arrive, he has a very calming presence … it can be quite grounding if clients are distressed.”
Uggie is described as a large black Labrador with a greying muzzle and eyebrows.
He was wearing a brightly coloured chequered collar.
Ms Sheppard said she is hoping for a Christmas miracle, and urged anyone who has seen Uggie to contact SA Police.
“There will be absolutely no consequences for returning Uggie to the police, we simply want to be reunited with him,” she said.
“We’ve been feeling really sad and very worried and confused really about where he might be.”
