A Sydney businessman has had four of his dogs taken from him, with a demand of A$300,000 (NZ$373,000) for their safe return.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports the dogs were taken from Ian Lazar's home last week.
The dogs, a miniature poodle, Maltese terrier and two Maltese shih-tzus, are still alive - but the paper reports he's been warned to pay up or the dogs' throats will be slit.
Mr Lazar said that although he would ''rather die myself than see any pain or torment to my beautiful dogs,'' he was refusing to give into the demands, saying: ''They are never going to get a cent out of me.''
The paper reports when Mr Lazar demanded ''proof of life,'' he was sent a photo of his dogs cowering in a cage, with the front page of The Australian Financial Review showing Saturday's date.
