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12-week-old spaniel puppy Lucy snatched from kennel in Cliffe

10:00, 21 December 2015

An adorable 12-week old puppy was snatched from her home in dead of night, just a few days before Christmas.

Lucy the little English springer spaniel was tucked up in bed in the kennels she shares with two adult labradors on a Cliffe farm, on Friday night.

But the old building was broken into, the wooden framed window forced open, and the lock on the liver and white’s bed prized off.

Lucy the little English springer spaniel was stolen from her kennels in Cliffe
Lucy the little English springer spaniel was stolen from her kennels in Cliffe

Being a tiny bundle it is believed she was passed out through the window, while the two larger dogs were left.

Heartbroken owner Leigh Loveridge, who also owns another two cocker spaniels, said: “I’m devastated, the dogs are like my kids, my whole life revolves around them.

“I just hope we find her, I hope whoever has stolen her sells her on to somebody responsible who will take her to the vets and realise from her chip she’s been stolen.”

Lucy the little English springer spaniel was stolen from her kennels in Cliffe
Lucy the little English springer spaniel was stolen from her kennels in Cliffe

The four adults dogs are all working gun dogs on the farm Miss Loveridge’s parents own and Lucy was to be trained up alongside them.

There is a number of dogs on site, including sheep and guards dogs, but whoever stolen Lucy went undetected.

The dog groomer, who owns Nipper Cut, lives just over the field from the farm with partner Walter Light.

Leigh with one of her other cocker spaniels
Leigh with one of her other cocker spaniels
Lucy the little English springer spaniel has some distinctive markings, including a brown spot on her back.
Lucy the little English springer spaniel has some distinctive markings, including a brown spot on her back.

She had left the dogs for the night around 7pm but when she returned at 7am on Saturday morning she found Lucy was gone.

“Lucy is a really bold, friendly puppy, she wouldn’t think twice about going off with someone. The kennel door to one of the labs was also broken, but either they put up a fight, or realised they couldn’t get them through the window, because they left them.”

The pup is easy to recognise, she has a big brown spot above her tail and the rest of her body is speckled white. Her head is brown with a triangle of white, and her nose is pink and brown speckled.

Lucy the springer pup cuddled up in her kennel with one of Leigh's labradors.
Lucy the springer pup cuddled up in her kennel with one of Leigh's labradors.

The 25-year-old is filled with regret now, after taking her two cockers home. “I just wish I’d taken her back with me as well, but I only have a small house. The labs are six and three and have always been there - we’ve never had anything like this happen before. I would never have expected it.”

The four adult dogs Leigh owns, two Labradors and two cocker spaniels
The four adult dogs Leigh owns, two Labradors and two cocker spaniels

The family have taken to social media to help with their search, as well as printing off posters and will be putting out an reward for her safe return.

A spokesman for Kent Police sad: “Officers have been investigating a report of a burglary in Rye Street, Cliffe, Rochester. It was reported that a 12 week old springer spaniel puppy was stolen from its kennel between December 18 and 19.”

Anyone with information should call the appeal line on 01474 366149, or Miss Loveridge directly on 07870497718 or 07527645192.

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