Puppies stolen during raid on Greater Manchester home

Silver

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Two bull mastiff puppies were stolen during a violent raid on a home in Greater Manchester.

Shortly after 1.15am on Tuesday 21 August, a 36-year-old woman was asleep on the sofa in her living room at her home on St Georges Avenue in Hulme, with the dogs at her feet.

She was startled awake when men entered the room and attempted to cover her with what is believed to be a bed sheet. The intruders kicked and punched her in the face and body when she struggled, and said they would kill her if she continued to resist.

The woman freed herself from the sheet in time to see three men fleeing through the back door, which was previously left unlocked.

She gave chase to Brotherton Close, where she saw one of the men passing one of her dogs over a wall to an accomplice.

The robbers slipped into nearby Barrack Park and disappeared from sight. By this time, the victim realised that they had made off with two of her puppies.

One of the missing dogs is named Silver, after the unusual colour of his coat. He has a small dot of black on his ear and little black and brown marks on his belly and groin. He has hazel blue coloured eyes and is worth around £700.

The other puppy, Buster, is a red bullmastiff and is very big for his age, weighing more than nine kilogrammes. He has a squashed face with brown and black freckles on his belly and groin. He has light blue eyes and is worth about £500.

Both dogs are just eight and a half weeks old.

Detective Constable Ian McNabb, of the Longsight Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "Both Silver and Buster were beloved pets and the victim is beside herself with worry about them.

"She has had them since they were born and has already formed a strong bond with them so this is an ordeal that is deeply upsetting for her.

"This is why we have today issued good clear images of both puppies in an effort to help find them. They are both distinctive, particularly Silver. As his name suggests he has an unusual colouring for this breed of dog. Indeed, a vet apparently told the owner that they had never seen one that colour before.

"The fact remains that these animals were no doubt stolen because they are of good pedigree and they could be well sold on.

"I now want anyone who is offered bullmastiff pups in suspicious circumstances to contact us.

"They were snatched away from their rightful owner in violent circumstances and their natural home is with her. I would also appeal to any vets or the professionals in the animal welfare business to keep an eye out for Buster and Silver and to contact us with any information."

Anyone with information is asked to call South Manchester CID on 0161 856 4146 or independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.