A YOUNG family has been left devastated after eight spaniel puppies were stolen from a kennel in their garden.

Rupert and Jennie Tory returned to their house in Winterborne Whitechurch on Saturday evening to find the five-week-old litter of Springer Spaniel pups had been taken.

Jennie said one of the puppies was intended as a companion for her five-month-old baby, William.

“We are all absolutely gutted. This was a litter we were having so my father could have a dog and for a companion for my son, William.

“I had been in and out all day, I hadn’t left the house for more than a moment. I came back to find them and they had gone,” said Jennie.

The litter had been bred from the couple’s five-year-old pet, Ruby, a working dog whom Jennie said had been left devastated by the theft.

“She’s absolutely distraught, she keeps scratching at the door, wanting to go outside to the kennel. The pups are not fully weaned,” she added, leaving Ruby with milk still to give her litter.

Thieves had lifted a panel from the rear of the padlocked kennel to seize the dogs.

Neighbours had told Jennie they saw nothing of the theft, which took place in broad daylight.

She added: “I have been here a lot recently; as you would expect with a five-week-old baby, my movements haven’t exactly been clockwork, it’s not like I have been to work and come back late in the evening.”

Four of the dogs are male and four are female and the litter contains a mix of black and white pups. A reward if offered for the puppies’ safe return.

Anyone who can help should call Dorset Police on 01202 222222, quoting crime reference C:10:D:39874, or alternatively e-mail rupe27@hotmail.com.