By Isobel Williams
A woman whose dog and four puppies were stolen in a burglary has been reunited with her cherished pet – but the little pups are still missing.
Devastated Simone Devorty, 64, returned home after a hospital appointment to find the house ransacked and the dogs, plus other valuables, gone.
Cherished King Charles Spaniel Mabel was found two days later 110 miles away, but there was no sign of the four little Cavapoo pups.
Simone, of Bury St Edmunds, West Suffolk, is too upset to talk about the home invasion and loss of the dogs and jewelry.
But her daughter Alisha Clack said: “Mabel was dumped over 100 miles away which is crazy. She was obviously completely terrified.
“We didn’t believe it when we got the call. As soon as we saw her and her little face, we just felt relief and were overwhelmed that we had managed to get her back.
“You could tell she was just so pleased to be back with me and my mom.
“She was completely exhausted and slept the whole way home. She has spent every waking minute since she got home searching for her puppies. That has been really distressing to see.”
Simone’s home was broken into on Tuesday (December 2) having left the pets home alone for just two hours.
She returned home to find the door broken and the dogs missing, along with a jewelry box containing valuable and sentimental items.
Simone searched everywhere for two-year-old Mabel, and several posts were shared online by neighbours hunting for the dogs.
But on Thursday (December 4) Simone received a call to say Mabel had been found 110 miles away at a garden in Rochester, Kent.
The homeowners took her to a vet in Sevenoaks who scanned Mabel’s microchip. She had been missing for more than 48 hours following the burglary between 12.50pm and 2.50pm.
Simone’s daughter Alisha, 34, accompanied her to collect Mabel and returned home for a ‘short-lived relief’ – as the puppies are still missing.
Alisha, who works in credit control, said: “I got a phone call from my mum screaming and crying saying that there was a break in and they had Mabel and the puppies.
“I don’t think the robbery has actually sunk in yet. Mom has lost 60 years’ worth of jewellery, but we are not fussed about that, all we want is Mabel and her babies back safely.”
The cavapoo litter are only five-weeks-old, too young to be microchipped, making them much harder to locate.
The family are now calling for people to share their story, and for the thieves to drop the puppies back off safely.
Alisha said: “Although we are so grateful and we are so thrilled to have her home it is bittersweet.
“She is so precious to us, but our heart breaks that she is back without her babies.
“There was a brief moment of relief, but while you are cuddling Mabel you can’t help but feel heartbroken. We just hope someone turns the puppies in safe.
“She is very quiet and timid by nature, but she is the most loving and affectionate little person. She is a loving member of the family.”
A Suffolk Police spokesperson said: “Police have located Mabel, the two-year-old King Charles Spaniel who was reported as being stolen in Coney West in Bury St Edmunds. The four puppies’ location is still unknown, however.
“The incident occurred between 12.50pm and 2.50pm on Tuesday 2 December at an address in Thetford Road.
“A brown female two-year-old King Charles Spaniel named Mabel, and her four five-week-old puppies were stolen from the property after an unknown male and female gained access to the property by causing damage to the windows of the front door and then obtaining a key.
“A cream jewellery box was also reportedly taken.
“Anyone with any information about this crime, or who may have been offered four puppies for sale – or knows of someone who has recently acquired one – is asked to contact Suffolk Police, quoting reference: 37/68284/25.”
