PASSUMPSIC, Vt. (AP) – Local officials say they’re growing concerned about a series of dog disappearances that could mean pet thieves are at work in the area.

Labrador retrievers and beagles appear to be the most frequently targeted for theft, said Jo Guertin, the town’s animal control officer.

“What scares me about the whole thing is I’ve had a couple of people tell me that Labs and beagles are the dogs most used for experimental purposes,” Guertin said.

Rocky Larrabee, who breeds Labradors, said he had two puppies disappear last year. He said he believes the puppies were taken by dognappers.

Larrabee’s partner is Debbie Kittrege. Her 16-year-old son D.J. said he spotted two men outside the house on Tuesday trying to coax the family’s purebred yellow Lab into their car. They left when he confronted them, he said.

The incident prompted this advice from Guertin: “I think that anybody who has a dog should know where it is all the time,” she said.

Pam Kimball of South Peacham said that about 5 a.m. one morning last fall, she saw a gray Jeep that had pulled into her driveway and heard a woman in the car trying to coax her purebred black Lab into the vehicle.

Kimball said she asked the woman what she was doing and that the woman laughed and said, “We’re trying to steal your dog,” and then left.

Guertin said similar incidents had been reported in several nearby towns.

Guertin said she advises against residents letting their dogs out to roam, even if they live in rural areas. Instead, people should get out of the house and take their pets for a walk, she said.