Puppies taken in violent Manchester burglary may not survive without injured mother
Written by News on 21/07/2019
Police have launched an urgent appeal after seven newborn puppies were stolen in a burglary and may not survive without their mother who was hit with a machete.
The puppies were taken when two men armed with machetes followed a man into a flat on Fernclough Road in Harpurhey, north Manchester, at around 9.30am on Saturday.
The men attacked their victim and left him on the floor with wounds to his forearms and hands which he sustained while trying to defend himself.
They then searched the property for any valuables to steal and after grabbing cash, keys and a phone, they came across a litter of five-week-old Staffordshire cross puppies and their mother, Zena.
The puppies were shoved into carrier bags and when Zena tried to defend them, she was hit on the head with a machete by one of the men, causing a deep laceration.
Detective Constable Nick Kershaw, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “We are urgently appealing for information which will help us locate the puppies which were stolen this morning.
“The dogs are only five weeks old and without their mother, they likely won’t survive very long so it is important that anybody with information that can assist, please contact police as a matter of urgency.
“This was an incredibly callous robbery, where the offenders showed absolutely no regard for the safety of anyone, human or animal, who was present at the time. They only had one thing on their mind, which was to take whatever they could.
“Please help us return these puppies and reunite them with their very sad mother, Zena, who has been left devastated.”
The men are described as black, skinny build, believed to be in their 20s and were wearing dark clothing with the hoods up.
One is believed to be around 6ft 3in to 6ft 4in and was wearing a grey and black camouflage face covering.
The other was slightly shorter and wearing a plain black face covering.
:: Anybody with information should contact police on 0161 856 3985, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
(c) Sky News 2019: Puppies taken in violent Manchester burglary may not survive without injured mother
