Tank, the supermodel of the two, is a purebred Staffordshire bull terrier.
Keith and Tank’s disappearance has left their owners, flatmates Quinn Shaw (23) and Jaidyn Barringer-Tairi devastated, and they offered a $3000 reward for any information leading to their safe return.
Mr Shaw said their dogs disappeared from their Bush Rd (South) home last Friday after being spooked by a passing thunderstorm.
He believed they had run off down the long rural driveway.
While there had been similar incidents in the past, the duo had always returned, he said.
"This is the first time they haven’t returned.
"Someone might have picked them up on the main road.
"Tank has my flatmate’s number on his collar, but no-one’s called to say they’ve got him.
"That makes me think someone has taken them, because no-one in the neighbourhood has seen anything — no-one.
"It’s gutting."
Dogs New Zealand director Steven Thompson said Staffies were high-value dogs which could sell for up to $5000 each.
Mr Barringer-Tairi said he had heard of purebred dogs like Tank being stolen for breeding and fighting.
"It’s devastating. I’ve heard stories about this happening to other people, but I never thought it would happen to me.
"I hate to think what’s happening to Tank right now."
Mr Shaw said Dunedin police were investigating the incident.
"Tank and Keith are family to us, and to us family is everything.
"We will never stop searching for them — we just want them home."
The incident is similar to the disappearance of Alan Funnell and Louisa Andrew’s black poodle Dice and fox terrier Weed, who went missing from their Otago Peninsula home in October, 2019.
Despite a nationwide search, the two dogs have never been found.
