Rare sheepdog puppies stolen from farm

West Mercia Police are appealing for information after a rare litter of purebred Australian Kelpie sheepdog puppies worth £2,450 was stolen from a farm in Shropshire.

The puppies, aged just six weeks, were taken from Hurst Farm, located on the side of the B4368 near Clunton, in Shropshire, yesterday (6 January) sometime between 10.30am and 4pm.

Their owners, young farmer Richard Jones, 26, and his partner Katie Burton, also 26, are pleading for their safe return.

Three of the stolen Kelpie puppies

Six dogs and one bitch were taken. One was brown and tan and the rest were black and tan.

The couple said the puppies should be easy to recognise as they are not very common.

Four of the puppies were due to go to new homes at the end of the month and deposits had already been paid by their new owners.

The couple say they will be forced to return the money if the puppies are not found.

Mr Jones told Farmers Weekly: “I fed them about 9am. I left the farm at 11am after feeding sheep. I usually have a look in [to check on the puppies] but I was busy.”

He then left the farm to go work and when he returned five hours later at 4pm he found the puppies missing.

Ms Burton was also at work at the time, leaving the premises unattended.

Mr Jones said it was “highly unlikely” the puppies had escaped because they were shut inside the sheep in a pen with their mother.

He said the puppies are vulnerable because they have not yet been weaned off their mother who is visibly distressed.

Mr Jones said the puppies’ new owners were “very upset” when he telephoned them with the news and is appealing for anyone with any information to come forward.