Heartbreak as dog is stolen (From Dorset Echo)

Heartbreak as dog is stolen

9:08am Friday 3rd July 2009 in

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AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy has been left ‘broken-hearted’ after thieves broke into his grandfather’s car and stole his dog.

Dennis Thorne bought pedigree cocker spaniel Jess for his grandson Ryan, but the dog lived with him at his home in Dorchester.

Dennis, 61, was staying over at his son’s house in Burleston, near Puddletown, and left four-year-old Jess in his truck outside their home.

That night someone forced entry to the vehicle and made off with the dog.

Dennis said: “I went out for the day with my grandson, I’d bought the dog for him as well as me.

“I went back to their place that night and they have got an alsatian so I left her in the truck with the windows open a bit at the top.

“Someone must have came along and pulled the window down, lifted the catch up and taken the dog out.”

Dennis said Ryan was left distraught by Jess’s disappearance and he was also finding it tough to deal with.

He said: “She’s four years old but she looks like a little puppy.

“I’d only had her for about five or six weeks but I was already quite attached and my grandson is broken-hearted.

“We just got really attached to her and she’s a really nice looking dog.

“People used to come up to me in town and say what a good looking dog she was.”

Jess was stolen around three weeks ago and since then Dennis said he has contacted the police, local animal charities such as Paws and the local dog warden but has found no trace of Jess.

He said he cannot understand how anybody would resort to stealing someone else’s pet but since it has happened he has heard more tales of ‘dognapping’ and believes it is more common than many people realise.

Dennis said: “It’s surprising when you get talking to people how much goes on.

“Since this happened I’ve been asking around different people and you hear more and more about it.

“Apparently, they are taking them from people’s gardens and everything.”

Dennis is now appealing for anyone who may have seen any trace of Jess, or a dog matching her description, to contact the police immediately.

Sergeant Steve Yeoman from Dorchester Police says anyone with information should contact them on 01305 222222.