Clues and claws: meet the ace pet detectives

Animal thefts surged alarmingly during the pandemic. But for heartbroken owners around the world, a new breed of dedicated sleuth is ready to
help track down your missing pet

I've always preferred animals to people. I've never met an animal I didn't like, whereas there are plenty of humans I could do without. As a young girl growing up in rural Queensland, I had my own Lassie dog - Sam - stolen from me, when I was six. My siblings were older, and Sam was my best friend. He went missing before microchips and registrations - I'm almost certain we found the family who took him, but that was never proved. It always stayed with me; I never got closure. I felt like I'd failed him, which is why I dedicate my life to tracking down other pets.