WATCH: Famous pub’s mascot stolen, $1000 reward offered

The Spotted Cow’s bovine mascot has been stolen, and the iconic Toowoomba pub is offering a reward for her safe return.

UPDATE: Queensland Police Service have confirmed the theft of Betsy the cow from Toowoomba’s Spotted Cow Hotel, revealing an official complaint was made Wednesday morning.

“We’ve received a complaint relating to the theft of a life size cow sculpture which would have occurred sometime between April 16 and 17,” a QPS spokesman said.

Spotted Cow Hotel manager Jabin Pirlo said he was hopeful the public would band together to help bring the famous statue home.

“She’s been a big part of the Spotted Cow’s history, we believe Betsy has called the Spotted Cow home for about 20 years so she’s become a really well loved member of the pub,” he said.

Manager Jabin Pirlo is perplexed over the disappearance of Betsy from the Spotted Cow Hotel and is eagre to see the pub’s beautiful bovine come home. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Despite Betsy’s popular status among patrons and staff alike, Mr Pirlo said her absence was not noticed for several days following the great bovine burglary.

“She’s almost become like the furniture around here, we’re so used to seeing her out the front of the pub so it did take us a few days to notice she wasn’t in her usual grazing location on Campbell Street,” he said.

“Sometimes she gets put into the shed of an evening, but lately we’ve been leaving her out and I guess some individuals who just had a few too many drinks one evening thought it might be a little bit of fun to take Betsy home with them.”

CCTV footage showing two people transporting Betsy up Campbell Street in the early hours of Friday morning was sourced from a nearby private property and was recently handed over to the hotel in a bid to help #BRINGBACKBETSY – the trending tag so far receiving almost 100 shares on Facebook.

Have you heard the moos? The Spotted Cow's beloved Betsy the Cow has been stolen and the pub is offering a reward for her safe return.

The recent cow theft is reminiscent of another famous Toowoomba burglary, that of the great 40 kilogram Sausage King statue from Mark Nolan’s Grays Modern Meat Market in October 2009.

The butcher’s shop had their iconic Sausage King stolen after the award-winning sausage maker won in the continental and gourmet categories at the National Sausage King Competition in Adelaide.

Mr Pirlo does not believe Betsy’s theft is linked to the Sausage King burglary of 2009 but is hopeful the pub’s mascot receives the same fate.

“We’re really hoping someone brings her home so we can return her to the front of the pub where she belongs,” he said.

The Spotted Cow's beloved Betsy the Cow has been stolen and the pub is offering a reward for her safe return.

Just like the ultimate return of the bruised and battered Sausage King in December 2009 thanks to four young selfless men, Betsy’s return will be met with a similarly sweet reward – but instead of 10 kilograms of sausages her heroes will be awarded $1000 to spend at the Spotted Cow Hotel.

EARLIER: One of Toowoomba’s most iconic watering holes, The Spotted Cow Hotel is calling on the public to aid in the safe return of their beloved bovine mascot, Betsy the cow after she was stolen from outside the pub in the early hours of Friday, April 16.

CCTV footage from the Hotel shows Betsy was stolen around 12.21am and clearly depicts two individuals struggling to carry the four-legged dairy cow up a footpath on Campbell Street.

Now the hotel is urgently calling on Darling Downs locals to help bring Betsy back and are offering a $1,000 voucher to spend at The Spotted Cow to whoever can return her safely to The Spotted Cow.

Have you heard the moos? The Spotted Cow's beloved Betsy the Cow has been stolen and the pub is offering a reward for her safe return. Picture: Contributed

If you know anything about Betsy’s disappearance or current whereabouts, contact [e-mail] or @thespottedcowhotel.