Family appeal over stolen dog

4:23pm Thursday 28th August 2008

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A family is pleading for the return of a valuable pet dog which was stolen from a house in Grove.

Red - a seven-year-old Saluki worth thousands of pounds - was taken from a house in Peregrine Way almost two weeks ago.

The family's two other dogs, Diesel, an 18-month-old lurcher, and Lucy, a 14-year-old mongrel, were not taken in the raid on August 18 and nothing else was taken, leaving the family to believe the burglars knew about the dog's value.

Adam Woodley, 27, said young female Salukis could be worth up to £2,000.

He said: "They broke into a back window, forcing it open with a large screwdriver which they left on the premises.

"They then came into the house where there were three dogs, but they left two and kicked Lucy in the face, I think she probably fought back.

"I would say there was probably two of them because they would have had to pass her over the eight foot back fence which is how I think they got away.

"They must have known we had her, I think they might have seen her through the window. They were after her because nothing else was taken."

Mr Woodley, a mechanic, who lives with his wife Shelley, 25, an administrator, and their children Kian, six, and Bethany, three, said Red was not a registered pedigree, but was worth a lot of money. They bought her four years ago from a family in Leeds who could no longer look after her.

He said: "We have had her since she was three years old. Her breed is worth a fortune and in this area you can't get one for love nor money.

"She is really important to us, one step down from our children. She's a very loving dog that spends her nights in our bed and her days in our bed as well. She's a proper family pet.

"She's very elegant, generally quite happy, but not very obedient and she loved running. We just want her back."

Mr Woodley said Red was about 20 inches tall, red in colour on her back, with slender, creamy coloured feathery legs.

He said: "If she was a person, you would call her ginger in colour."

Thames Valley Police confirmed officers were investigating a burglary in which a Saluki dog was stolen on August 18 between 12pm and 3.10pm.

Call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.