Puppies taken from slain man's farm

Scott Guy's dog sits waiting on his ute during his funeral service in Feilding. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Police are investigating whether the disappearance of three puppies from a Feilding property is linked to the murder of farmer Scott Guy.

Mr Guy, 31, was found dead in the driveway of his home on Aorangi Rd, south of Feilding, on July 8.

A post-mortem examination confirmed he died from several gunshot wounds.

Police this morning said three puppies were discovered missing from Mr Guy's property on the day of his death.

They were among a litter of eight housed in an outbuilding on the property, and six of the puppies had been advertised for sale on flyers in local businesses from late June.

The puppies were discovered missing hours after Mr Guy's death, after last being seen about 5pm the previous day when they were fed by a family member.

The outbuilding was about 80m from where Mr Guy was shot.

Detective Inspector Sue Schwalger said police decided not to make information about the missing puppies public until they had assessed explanations for their disappearance, and whether there was a direct link to the murder.

Police were now seeking assistance from the public.

"It is unclear at this stage whether the missing puppies are an isolated incident or whether they are linked in some way to Scott's death," Ms Schwalger said.

Police were asking people who had seen the advertisement and called the number to come forward.

They also wanted to know if anyone was offered a chocolate labrador puppy or knew someone who had received one.

"Did you take the puppies? If you took the puppies but did not kill Scott we need to eliminate you from our investigation," police said.

Police asked anyone with information to call the investigation team on 0800 808 585 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police yesterday said there had been two earlier acts of vandalism on the Guy property, but were yet to find a link with the murder.

They confirmed windows were smashed and walls were tagged with graffiti while the Aorangi Rd house was still being built in January last year.

A farmhouse, which was sitting on trailers so it could be removed from the property, was set alight in October 2008.

Police spokeswoman Kim Perks said police continued to receive calls from the public but the response had been "fairly minimal".

Police were yet to establish a motive for the murder and were looking into Mr Guy's background.

Mr Guy left a wife Kylee - pregnant with a child due in September - and a two-year-old son.

About 800 people gathered in Feilding on Friday to farewell Mr Guy at a public funeral.

Police said he had got up early as usual to go milking on the day of his murder and drove his ute to the end of his driveway. He stopped and walked around to the front of the ute, and it was then that he was shot and killed.

He was killed by a shotgun but police did not know the type or style. They were now seeking the weapon.

Police described his death as a deliberate act and they believed someone in the community would know what happened.

- NZPA