Sue Oram’s Maltese shih tzu, Ruby, was stolen on Thursday after escaping from her house in Gillies Court.

Police have received occasional reports of larger dogs being targeted in the region and used for dog fighting, but have no evidence it is occurring.

Ms Oram, 58, came home on Thursday to find her beloved pet missing and searched nearby streets without luck.

She received a phone call from a Pascoe Vale veterinary clinic the next day — the person claiming to be the dog’s owner had taken her to the clinic for a check-up, but Ruby’s microchip had revealed her true owner’s details.

“Apparently there was a tradesman visiting Wodonga for work and he paid money for Ruby,” Ms Oram said.

“He bought her from someone else.

“In a matter of 24 hours of her going missing, she had been picked up, sold, taken to Melbourne and checked by the vet.”

Ms Oram had to travel to Melbourne to pick up Ruby from the clinic.

She said she couldn’t believe someone would do such a thing.

“I think they’re disgusting,” she said of the thief.

“I’m single, this is my dog, and there a lot of people around who have dogs and they’re part of their family. It really is just despicable.

“I’m scared to even go out and leave her outside.

“I’m going to have to leave her inside the house from now on.”

It is believed Ruby, who is almost two years old, dug a hole under a fence and escaped before she was stolen.

“I’m glad I’ve got her back,” Ms Oram said.

“It has all been pretty devastating.

“I knew that something strange had happened because I can normally find her when she gets out.

“I just can’t believe someone would take someone’s dog.”

Wodonga’s Sergeant Larry Goldsworthy said while dogs were a target for thieves, such theft was relatively rare.

“The concern is that they may be on-sold or used for dog fighting, but we’ve got no evidence to back that,” he said.

“Over the years, I’ve heard of staffies and pit bulls being targeted but it’s a rare occurrence.”