Owners fear beloved dogs who went missing in the South Downs have been stolen

The two dogs disappeared on consecutive nights from the same spot on a quiet country lane near the villages of Stoughton and Up Marden.

They have now been missing for several days and their owners believe they have been stolen.

The first dog to disappear on Saturday early evening was a ‘sweet and adorable’ puppy – a black and white cocker spaniel bitch called Hazel which belongs to Stoughton resident Becky Taylor.

At nine months old, Hazel is a therapy dog at a rehabilition centre for people who are trying to cope with life’s challenges.

Becky is ‘extremely attached’ to her as she reared her from a newborn and also owns Hazel’s mother and sister.

The second dog to go missing the next night was a white cockerpoo bitch called Roly, owned by Katie Christie and her family.

Katie said her disappearance was ‘a huge loss’, adding that Roly was ‘greatly loved’ by her teenage son Louis.

Katie said: “We’ve spoken to the police and they said it’s likely they’ve been stolen.

“There’s no concrete proof, because no one saw them being picked up, but it’s very likely.”

She pointed to recent reports in the national media about a surge in dog theft after the coronavirus lockdown led to a demand for new pets.

Puppy prices have soared and popular breeds, such as cocker spaniels, springer spaniels and cockerpoos, are selling for ‘a fortune’ online, she said.

According to the charity Doglost, reports of stolen dogs went up 65 per cent during lockdown compared to the same period last year.

Posters of the missing dogs have been distributed online and in the local area.

Anyone with information can call Becky on 07932140739 or the Christies on 07799 838578.

Meanwhile the search continues for Spillo, a 15-year-old mongrel which went missing on Tuesday, July 28, while his family was holidaying at a cottage near Midhurst.

SEE MORE: Desperate family on holiday in West Sussex will not leave until missing dog is found

Spillo’s owners – Henrik, Sharon and their daughter Laura Bierer-Nielsen – extended their stay and even hired a pet detective to try and track down their beloved pet, which they also believe has been stolen.

A Facebook page called Spillo Search has been launched and the family is offering ‘a substantial reward’ for information which leads to Spillo’s safe recovery – visit the page to find out more.