The happy ending to the story of lost collie Jellybean, who was found after a massive community effort in the Raglan area is heartwarming.

But two dog owners in Abergavenny, fearful that their pets have been targeted by thieves, are warning owners to be especially vigilant.

Stories have been circulating on social media for some time that family pets in towns in South Wales and across the UK are being snatched from gardens and backyards in connection with illegal dog fighting, with properties known to have friendly pets being marked with spray paint or chalk.

Gwent police say such reports are unfounded and stories in the press and social media are merely scare-mongering.

But the pet owners, who are too frightened to be named, are convinced their properties were marked with the ‘signal’ that a dog using the garden would come when called.

One of them had subsequently called the police on 101 and also Monmouthshire Housing Association.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to since says they have heard this is happening but they are too afraid to come forward. Maybe it is all just speculation - but I want people to be aware of the possible dangers.

“Lots of owners leave their dogs in the garden all day.

“If there’s any truth in the social media stories then it’s not a good idea, for example, to have a sign on your gate advertising the fact that a particular breed of dog lives there.

“I was passing a doctor’s surgery in town recently and saw a small dog tied up outside.

“I waited and waited for the owner to come out. When I told him I was worried about her being left for so long his response was ‘Nobody would steal her - she’s too old!’. Obviously he thought dogs are only stolen for breeding but I explained it could be far more sinister than that.”

The other local dog owner, in her seventies, agreed that regardless of whether or not the social media reports were true, dog owners should be warned to keep a close eye on their pets.

“Finding a cross marked on my wall, whatever the reason for it, has made me more aware of watching my dog when he’s out in the garden and keeping him on a lead in the park.

“Lots of elderly people like me rely on their dogs for companionship. If mine was stolen I would be absolutely devastated.”

Dog trainer Lyn, who found Jellybean, said, “It’s difficult to know how widespread the problem is but I do believe there are instances of dogs being stolen to order. Breeding bitches, for example, can be extremely valuable.

“I think owners should be warned not to leave dogs unattended, whether in a garden or a car or tied up outside shops.

“I saw a dog tied up outside Tesco in Abergavenny the other day and as I was walking into the shop a two-year-old was walking towards it with an outstretched hand. I could see the dog was frightened and pulling away and I quickly called out to the toddler’s mum. In that case there was no harm done - but it could have been a different story.”

* A recent BBC investigation found that more than 5,000 dogs had been reported stolen to police forces in England and Wales since the start of 2013.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed a 22.3% rise in reports in two years, with a reported 423 thefts in the first four months of 2016.

The most popular targets are Staffordshire bull terriers, followed by Jack Russells, cocker spaniels, chihuahuas and Yorkshire terriers.

A Conservative MP in Kent, where the highest number of reported thefts took place, has called for a specific crime of pet theft to be introduced.

Stealing a dog is currently deemed no more serious than stealing other possessions like a laptop or mobile

He wants the government to recognise the growing problem of dog thefts and the effect they can have on owners.

While it is now a legal requirement for all dogs to be micro-chipped, vets do not have to routinely scan new dogs brought into their surgeries.

Campaigners want to make it compulsory for all vets, local authorities and rescuers to scan every dog that they deal with.

The maximum penalty for theft is seven years imprisonment and the Ministry of Justice has no plans to change it, but the independent Sentencing Council recently issued revised guidelines which make clear that courts should take into account ‘emotional distress’.