Have you seen Ruby?

A callous thief has stolen a beloved family dog. Family are pleading for her return with police reviewing security footage of a man caught in the act.

GONE: Meg's beloved family dog, Ruby (pictured as a puppy) was stolen from the pound on Sunday night. Picture: Contributed

A CALLOUS thief has stolen a beloved family dog, with the family pleading for her return.

Security footage shows the dog being removed from a facility, and police are now investigating.

Ruby was purchased as a friend for young Meg, who has asperger's syndrome.

"She's basically a big sweetheart. She'll pretty much lick you to death,” Meg said.

"I've been trying to think why they would take her. She's been desexed so she's not for breeding.

"They might have taken her for dog fighting, I don't know.”

I'm hoping that's not the case because she wouldn't hurt a fly.”

She escaped from the family's Pavilion St home on Sunday and it has been a frantic search since.

Police say they've viewed security footage, capturing a man in the act of the crime.

"At approximately 1.30am an unknown (male) person has attended the drop box where you can put dogs after hours,” Stanthorpe Senior Sergeant Gerard Brady said.

Police are continuing to review footage.

"About six years ago Meg was diagnosed with asperger's at the age of 15 so, on a trip up to Mackay, we found a dog that was ideal for her, which was Ruby,” Terry Howard said.

"We bought it for her to keep her company.”

The Howards' beloved family dog, Ruby, was stolen. Picture: Contributed

Terry and wife Ally went for a walk on Sunday, returned in the afternoon to find Ruby gone.

She was picked up on Alice St by someone and taken to the pound.

"I drove over there and I saw Ruby at the cage and was patting her and telling her I couldn't do anything until Monday morning,” Terry said.

"I went home and told Meg, she's in the pound, everything is fine, she's safe. I rang up council Monday morning to say there's a black half sharpei, half whippet there by the name of Ruby.

"They said 'no, sorry, there's no dog of that description'.

"I jumped in the car, drove over there and found the bolts of the hinges had been undone. Someone had got a crowbar or pinch bar and bent the plate and taken the dog.”

At that time council was unaware of the theft, but soon contacted police. A council spokesperson said the matter was now in police hands. Mr Howard said things weren't looking good, but thanked the community for their support.

"It's tough when you lose a member of the family, especially when you don't know how or why.

"Whoever took it, if you can see past it and bring it back so Meg can have her soul friend back, that'd be awesome,” he said.

- Matthew Purcell, Stanthorpe Border Post