In the quiet, rolling landscapes of Haugalandet in Rogaland, the silence on several farms has become oppressive. For three different owners, the disappearance of their Border Collies—dogs that are as much essential employees as they are companions—has left a void that is both professional and deeply personal.
The dogs vanished within a narrow eight-day window, leaving behind no tracks, no torn fences, and no sightings. While the loss of a pet is always devastating, the specific nature of these disappearances—targeting highly trained, high-value working dogs across a concentrated geographic area—has led owners to a chilling conclusion: these animals did not wander off; they were taken.
The pattern is unsettling. One dog disappeared from Fastlands-Karmøy, while two others vanished from Tysvær. Despite the farms being located in relatively remote areas, they are separated by only 15 to 30 minutes of driving time. For those who know the temperament of a well-trained Border Collie, the idea that three such dogs would simply vanish without a single witness or trace of a struggle is nearly impossible to reconcile.
Among the most affected is 61-year-old Lars Øyvind Brekke, a farmer north of Sagbakken in Tysvær. For Brekke, who is partially disabled, his four-year-old dog, Keiko, was more than a pet. Keiko was his “right hand,” a critical partner in the daily operations of the farm. The disappearance happened in an instant; Brekke recalls performing his usual chores and taking a brief rest. When he returned to work, Keiko was gone.
A Pattern of Precision and Silence
The search for the missing dogs has been exhaustive, involving local volunteers, experienced dog handlers, and modern technology. Mona Thorsen, a volunteer with a background in animal protection, has spent hours scouring the mountains and rugged terrain surrounding the farms. Despite the use of drones and scent-tracking dogs, the results have been hauntingly empty.
“There are no footprints, no remnants of fur, nothing,” Thorsen said. “I have never been part of something like this before. It is strange that three such dogs disappear without a trace in such a short period.”
The lack of physical evidence is what steers the owners toward the theory of organized theft. A dog that runs away typically leaves a trail or is spotted by neighbors along the road. In these cases, the dogs seem to have been lifted directly from their environment, suggesting a level of planning and precision that points toward professional thieves.
| Dog Name | Age | Location of Disappearance | Role/Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keiko | 4 years | Tysvær (Sagbakken) | High-performing sheepdog; primary farm assistant |
| Saga | 2.5 years | Fastlands-Karmøy (Fosen) | Trained working dog |
| Sakk | 13 years | Tysvær | Experienced working dog |
The High Value of the Working Breed
The suspicion that the dogs were stolen for profit is grounded in the market value of elite Border Collies. A well-trained sheepdog is a prized asset, with some valued at 40,000 NOK or more. Brekke suspects that the dogs may have been targeted for their genetics and training, potentially to be smuggled out of Norway for breeding purposes.
Brekke believes the thieves may be targeting markets in Eastern Europe, where he suggests registration and tracking systems are not as robust as those in Norway. “In Norway, we have a well-developed system, so if you try something here, it just becomes a mess,” Brekke explained. He noted that the theft of “solid, well-trained sheepdogs” feels calculated and “cunning.”
The emotional toll of this suspected trafficking is immense. For Brekke, who has owned Keiko for a year and a half, the dog was a constant presence in every aspect of his workday. The uncertainty—not knowing if the dog is safe, injured, or already across a border—is a burden shared by the other two owners in the region.
Law Enforcement and Community Response
The disappearances have been reported to the police, though the owners acknowledge the difficulty of prioritizing such cases amidst other criminal activity. Nina Fagerland, the duty officer at the Haugesund police station, confirmed that the dogs have been officially registered as missing via their microchip numbers.
This registration is the primary line of defense. If the dogs are taken to a veterinarian or a shelter anywhere in the country—or in nations that share database access—the chips should trigger an alert. However, this relies on the dogs being scanned, a step that professional thieves often attempt to bypass by removing the chips or operating in “black market” environments.
The local community has rallied around the farmers, with volunteers providing manpower for searches and social media being used to spread awareness. Thorsen and other advocates are urging the public to be vigilant on online marketplaces and social media groups where dogs are sold, looking for any Border Collies that match the descriptions of Keiko, Saga, or Sakk.
The current focus remains on digital surveillance and the hope that a chip scan will eventually provide a location. The next critical step for the owners is the continued monitoring of international livestock and breeding forums, as well as maintaining the police reports to ensure the cases remain active in the national database.
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of these dogs or have seen suspicious activity in the Tysvær or Karmøy areas, please contact the Haugesund police station.
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