A FAMILY are offering a reward for the return of their dog after she was stolen from kennels.

Maria Mosley, 50, from Poole, said that she and her husband, Adrian, put their three dogs into Noarck Boarding Kennels and Cattery on Friday, August 19 for two nights to spend time away with their four children.

However when staff went to shut the chalet containing Millie the Yorkshire Terrier and her two fellow canines, Ivory and Daisy the West Highland Terriers on Saturday evening, the smallest of the group had gone.

Maria has set up a Facebook page entitled Find Millie the Dog to appeal for the public’s help, which has been shared over 4,200 times.

She said: “We are absolutely heartbroken. She is part of our family. She’s actually quite a frightened little dog. We’ve been going to Noarck for years.”

The family were in London when the incident happened and after being told the bad news, they drove straight back to the kennels to collect their other two dogs. “They’re really quiet. They are obviously missing her. They can sense that we are distraught.”

Sara Watt, manager of Noarck Boarding Kennels and Cattery, based in Ringwood Road in St Leonards, said: “We are dreadfully sorry at what has happened.

“The dogs are based in individual chalets with a 15sqft pen. This area is surrounded with six foot six fencing topped with barbed wire and then security fencing going across above the kennels so dogs can’t attempt to jump over.

“Then a foot in front of the pen is another fence which is also six foot six high topped with barbed wire. We don’t lock them in during the day as that is inhumane.

“The person would have to scaled both fences to gain access and the pen one again with the dog to get out as the pen’s gates were not touched.

“The dog was in her pen at 5.30pm when we fed her with the other two. When we went to lock them away at about 9 pm we realised Millie was missing.

“It’s at that point that we called the police and also the owners who were going to be away until Monday.”

A spokesperson for Dorset Police confirmed that they have received a report of a dog theft, which is believed to have occurred between 7pm and 9pm on Saturday, August 20.

Anyone with information can contact Dorset Police on 101, quoting occurrence number 5560125887.