A FAMILY have been devastated by the theft of the puppy which they bought to help their children cope with the death of their young sister.

Bailey, a three-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier puppy, was taken from a house in Howards Mead, Pennington, near Lymington, early on Sunday.

Owner Michelle Thorn, 30, said she woke up around 5.30am to hear her older dog, another Staffordshire bull terrier, Crystal, running around the garden and “barking like a lunatic”.

“I don’t know whether I disturbed an intruder and they just grabbed Bailey as they ran off or if they were after him specifically,” she said.

“We’ve had him since he was six weeks old and we just want him back.”

Bailey has a brown coat with a white stripe down his nose.

He was bought for Michelle and her husband Robert’s three children – Shannon, 12, Katie-Ann, 10 and Ryan, eight – after the couple’s youngest daughter Lily-Mae tragically died last November aged 15 months.

“We bought Bailey to help our three children with the grieving process. We’re devastated he has gone,” said Michelle. “If anyone knows where he is then please get in touch with the police.

“He’s just like one of our children and we want him back.

“Every day after school the children would walk him. It’s left a void in our lives, especially not knowing what has happened to him.”

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, been offered the puppy for sale or has any other information is asked to contact PC Rob Hone at Lymington police station on 101 or 0845 045 45 45 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.