Puppies saved after ‘101 Dalmations’ theft
UP TO 40 stolen puppies were rescued by police after they were spotted being loaded into a van, in a case reminiscent of a scene from the film 101 Dalmatians.
The mixture of Border collies, beagles and jack russells were saved on Saturday after a member of the public spotted them being loaded into the van in Cheltenham, Glos, earlier in the day.
Officers stopped the van on the M6 and found between 30 and 40 puppies inside. The animals are now being cared for by the RSPCA, Gloucestershire Constabulary said.
A 24-year-old man from Durham was arrested on suspicion of theft and has been released under investigation. A man who works near where the puppies were spotted but did not want to be named said the theft was “horrible” and compared it to a “scene from 101 Dalmatians”. In Disney’s 1961 film, antagonist Cruella de Vil plans to kidnap a litter of puppies using a van.
Saturday’s arrest follows several thefts of dogs and puppies from across Gloucestershire in the last two weeks. It is not known if any of the thefts are linked to Saturday’s arrest.
Last week, Gloucestershire police issued a warning to pet owners after the thefts of a collie and her six puppies from one house, an English pointer from another, and a Labrador-cross from a third.
The female collie and puppies were taken from a property in Brockworth after 9pm on Tuesday, Aug 18. A black English pointer and a Labrador-cross were also taken earlier in the week.
Statistics released by Direct Line show that on average six dogs were reported stolen every day across England and Wales.
Overall, 22 per cent of stolen dogs were returned to their owners.