A FAMILY has been left devastated after discovering their dog and her litter of three week old puppies have been stolen from their home.

Alice Callaghan and her partner Neil Dyke of Chipps Farm in Corsley believe their two year old Border Collie cross, Jess, and her three week old litter of six puppies have been stolen after they found their kennel door damaged and the dogs gone on Tuesday (April 17) morning.

The couple believe the dogs could have been taken between 12.30am when Mr Dyke came in from lambing on the farm and 3am on Tuesday morning as he got up to milk the cows.

Miss Callaghan said: “The whole family is just absolutely devastated.

“Our dog Jess is a member of our family and we are so upset to think someone has taken her.

“It was Neil’s mum who discovered the dogs had gone on Tuesday morning and she had her grandchild with her at the time. They were both so upset.

“The puppies are so young they have only just started making noises and are just about walking so there is no way they would have wandered off.

“We know Jess wouldn’t wander off either, it’s just not like her.

“She is such a lovely natured dog.

“We have been in touch with the police and are just hoping to have the dogs back safe.

“The puppies were actually an accident as Jess is a working dog on our farm, so we are really hoping to get Jess back, but if we could get the puppies back too that would be great.

“This is an awful thing to go through and we are so worried for them.

“I cant understand why anyone would take them, it’s not like they are expensive breed of dog at all.

“The kennel which they were last in is outside in our shed and you wouldn’t even know it is there.

“We really do hope to have them back soon, the dogs are like our children.”

A spokesman from Wiltshire Police said: “We are currently investigating this report of stolen puppies and their mother.

“The puppies have not yet been chipped as they are so young, but the mother has been.

“The owners are understandably distraught and we are appealing for anyone with information on their whereabouts, or anyone who may have seen them for sale online or been offered them for sale, to get in touch asap via 101.”