A LOCAL man has appealed for help after his prizewinning pet dogs were stolen from his Lisburn home recently.
Alan McWhirter whose dogs were stolen from his Kennels. US2509-121AO Picture By: Aidan O'Reilly
Three of Alan McWhirter's English Bulldogs were taken from kennels at his home on the Sheepwalk Road between the evening of May 27 and the early hours of May 28. One of them is heavily pregnant with pups.
Alan is now worried about what will become of his dogs, which he says are not just show dogs but family pets, fearing that they are now in the hands of puppy farmers.
Alan is now offering a substantial reward to anyone who can help retrieve his dogs.
He said: "They came across the fields behind our home and left one old girl and one which would bark quite a lot.
Jane, who is carrying a litter of pups.
"The three they took are all young, from eighteen months to four years old and one is heavily pregnant.
"My wife went out at 9pm and checked on them all and I came home at 12.30am and saw one of them looking at me, but that could have been one that they left behind because I don't like disturbing them at that time of night so I didn't go in. The next morning I noticed the kennel door was smashed open and the dogs were gone."
The missing AJ.
The three stolen dogs, AJ, a White 18 month old dog, Jane, a four-year-old Red bitch who is carrying a litter of puppies and Holly, a two-year-old Red and White bitch, are all championship winning dogs.
Alan added: "I am worried about what will happen to them, especially with puppy farming.
"I would just appeal to anyone who knows anything to help, I would just love to get my dogs back. It is just horrible, they are not just show dogs, these are our pets.
USPCA spokesperson David Wilson said: "I would advise people to make sure their dogs is microchipped.
"Not just pedigree dogs but all dogs, because any dog can wander, although pedigree dogs are more lilkely to be stolen.
"A microchip is not entirely safe, they can be removed, but it is a very useful course of action."
Missing Holly.
David continued: "It is not without hope for these dogs, I'm sure their owner has photos out there of them and they will be well known in terms of showing so they can't break into that."
A PSNI spokesperson commented: "Police are investigating the theft of three Bulldogs from premises on the Sheepwalk Road area of Lisburn.
"Anyone with any information is asked to contact police at Lisburn on 0845 600 8000, or information can be passed to the charity Crimestoppers number anonymously on 0800 555 111."
If you have any information about the whereabouts of AJ, Jane or Holly you can contact Alan on 028 92647944 or 07857798206.
