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Family 'Heartbroken' As Dog And Her Litter Of Seven Puppies Stolen

Joanna Freedman

Published 
| Last updated 

Family 'Heartbroken' As Dog And Her Litter Of Seven Puppies Stolen

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

A litter of seven cocker spaniel puppies and their mother have been stolen from a caravan in Cambridgeshire.

The pups were taken from the Cottenham motor home last Wednesday (July 22nd) between 1.30 and 2.30pm, leaving the dog's owners "utterly heartbroken".

Each dog is said to be valued at £2000, meaning the thief has stolen a doggy family worth £14,000 altogether.

Alongside the dogs, the burglar took a wallet, too.

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But to the owners of the Setchell Drove motor home, it's about far more than money, and they've been left devastated at the sudden disappearance of their beloved pets.

The pups were stolen from a caravan in Cambridgeshire (Credit: SWNS)
The pups were stolen from a caravan in Cambridgeshire (Credit: SWNS)

The theft is the latest in a string of stolen dog incidents across Cambridgeshire over the last couple of months.

And the issue has become so bad that Cambridgeshire Police are now warning dog owners to be extra vigilant about keeping an eye on their pets.

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Detective Sergeant Ashley Ryan, of the force's southern burglary team, said: "The owners are utterly heartbroken and extremely concerned for the welfare of their dogs.

"I'm urging anyone who has been offered a similar looking dog, or knows someone who has, to get in touch."

In total, there have been six other dog theft incidents over the last two months.

On May 3rd, two cocker spaniel dogs were stolen from Bluntisham, but were luckily found and returned to their rightful owners following a warrant in Willingham on June 5th.

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The dogs are the latest in a string of thefts (Credit: SWNS)
The dogs are the latest in a string of thefts (Credit: SWNS)

Another cocker spaniel was stolen on May 13th, from Stow Cum Quy, and on May 21st, yet another spaniel was stolen from Newborough, Peterborough - but returned after a social media campaign by the owners.

Two major dog thefts in June saw nine dogs stolen from Horningsea on June 11th. Only one pup was found close by shortly after.

Plus, there was another cocker spaniel stolen from Wilburton on June 23rd, and on July 3rd, there was an attempt to steal more dogs in Haddenham.

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How could anyone be so cruel?!

It is believed the spike in dog thefts is down to a rise in prices paid for them.

As a result, dog owners are now being advised to keep an ID tag on their dog at all times, and also being told to lock their gates using bolts at the top and bottom, using a heavy-duty padlock.

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Garden gates should also be fitted with a bell or gate alarm which makes a sound when someone opens it, and driveway alarms should be purchased to alert dog owners to any visitors.

Owners are also being told never to leave your pet unattended in the garden, and to ensure there are no places where dogs or other animals can escape or be pulled through, if they are left in a back garden.

To ensure your dog is protected, and can be retrieved, they should also be microchipped with details updated.

Plus, owners should avoid leaving a dog tied up outside a shop or left alone in a car, even for a few minutes.

Cambridgeshire police are urging people to report dog thefts to them straight away, and provide as many photos as possible to prove their ownership.

If you have any information about any of the thefts above, call the police on 101 quoting reference 35/48592/20, or report an incident online here.

Topics: Dog, Life News, News, Pets, Animals

Joanna Freedman
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