ANIMAL welfare groups have urged people to remain calm and vigilant following reports of fence-tagging by dog-snatching rings in Brisbane's Bayside.

Lee Jeffries is a professional pet detective of 21 years. She works with nationwide organisation Pet Search and believes talk about fence tagging harms rather than helps efforts to locate stolen pets.

"We get so many people calling in about this and it's very concerning because it makes people panic,'' she said.

"Dog thefts are on the rise and getting worse and we want something done too...but these claims are muddying the waters.''

Ms Jeffries said internet hoaxes about dog theft were common and that fence-tagging could fall into this category.

"The reason we are so concerned about this issue is that it is negatively affecting people who have actually have stolen pets,'' she said.

"Their energy, resources, money and time is being spent following up false leads.

"Some people are just giving up searching for their pet straight away because rumours make them feel like they have no chance of finding them.''

Ms Jeffries said dog-fighting rings did exist but were not behind all thefts.

"It is nearly impossible to prove theft is for dog-fighting rings,'' she said.

"However it is human nature to pass on information…and that’s how these idea’s get spread.”

Her argument was echoed by the RSPCA with Chief Inspector of Operations Daniel Young who discouraged rumour spreading about stolen.

"Certainly dogs get stolen...and unfortunately dog fighting is a reality in Australia but people are taking information from all different sources and making their own decisions.

"We don't have the information to confirm these reports, what we need is people to come to us with factual information so we can look into it.''

Mr Young urged the public to lodge a police report if they believed their pet was stolen.

"It's very obvious that dogs do get stolen for dog fighting, but there's an idea as soon as a dog goes missing that it's automatically for dog fighting which is very upsetting and distressing for the owners,'' he said.

"If you believe your dog has been stolen call the RSPCA or Crime Stoppers...and don't give up as they could be found.''

EARLIER REPORT

THIEVES are using coloured tags to mark Brisbane homes with dogs they want to steal for selling on or for suspected dog-fighting rings.

The tactic has come to light following a spate of attempted dog abductions on Brisbane's bayside, where thieves are posing as council workers to get close to homes.

Residents believe offenders are now marking fences red, blue or yellow to identify the size of the dog before returning later to snatch them.

Nicci Korff urged dog owners to be vigilant after a dog was reported stolen from her brother's street in Alexander Hills over the weekend.

It was the fourth she had heard of in the past week.

"It's really quite disturbing what's going on and obviously the police can't be there to monitor all the time," she said.

"My brother has had to bring his dogs inside every night just to be safe.''

Carly Quinlan* of Queenslanders Against Dog Theft and Fighting Rings said she received more than 10 reports of "tagging'' last week.

"We have received up to a dozen reports of this happening,'' she said.

"It's a known tactic of similar dog theft rings overseas so it is likely they are doing this.''

Ms Quinlan's group recently investigated a similar spate of thefts across Logan where it was suspected the dogs were being used in fighting rings.

She said the majority of dogs reported stolen were generally "bull breeds'', considered more suitable for fighting.

"Some of these reports are pretty spot on and we are taking them seriously,'' she said.

"We think they scope out the dog and then mark the property for someone to come back at night and take the dog.

"It can be marked with anything ... a sign, a ribbon or even a stick jammed in a gate.''

Her comments follow a warning issued by Redland City Council and police about dog thieves around Wynnum.

Police were unable to confirm the tagging claims but said they were investigating reports of attempted abductions.

``We are gathering information at present,'' a spokeswoman said.

``So far there have been numerous reports of suspicious behaviour but we are unaware if they have actually managed to steal any dogs.

"The best course of action is to make detailed notes on the situation and especially record the rego of any car involved to pass on to police.''

Wynnum dog owner Danielle Nolan said the thought of her rottweiler being used for dog fighting was "horrendous''.

"We hear of this happening through people at the dog park and the breeders warn you about it so we have locks on every gate just to keep the dog secure,'' she said.

"Thankfully we have great neighbours who keep an eye on things when we are out but not everyone is so lucky.''

RSPCA Chief Inspector of Operations Daniel Young would not comment on tagging but encouraged people to employ practical tips to avoid their dog being stolen.

"Obviously prevention is best and at the end of the day it's good to ensure property is fenced and gates are locked,'' he said.

"Also microchip your dog, as collars with identification tags can be removed and get to know your neighbours so they know the dog and can watch out for anything suspicious.''

*Carly's name changed on request