Cruel scammers target family of 'stolen' dog in Sussex

Pepper, a ten-year-old Cocker Spaniel and Springer Spaniel cross, went missing from her home in Rowfant near Crawley on Tuesday, April 6.

Owner Nicola Penn, 62, said her family are “devastated” and their ordeal has been made worse after receiving callous calls from individuals claiming to know the whereabouts of their beloved pet.

Pepper went missing from her Sussex home on April 6

She said: “I had a call last night. A voice said, ‘I’ve found your dog’ and then it went quiet, so I asked ‘who are you? Where is she?’

“There was no answer for a while and then someone spoke and said ‘yes, she’s dead’ before laughing and hanging up.

“We had to take my daughter’s number off the missing posters because it’s just so awful.

“My husband has had two calls and I’ve had one.”

Pepper is a 10-year-old crossbreed spaniel

The family are now appealing for any information to help to find Pepper after growing increasingly concerned that she may have been taken.

• READ MORE: Hove family fear pet was 'stolen' and used as 'bait dog'

Nicola, who has blood cancer, says Pepper had been a huge support to her throughout lockdown while she shielded at home.

She is convinced that Pepper must have been taken from the garden as it would be “uncharacteristic” for her to venture out.

The family are appealing for anyone with information about Pepper to come forward

Nicola said: “She’s very, very loyal and she’s been by my side the whole way through lockdown.

“There’s no way she would go wandering ever, she’s just very quiet and very gentle.

“She’s an older dog too so she’s just not very well in herself and is starting to get allergies and things.

• READ MORE: Sussex police issue advice after increase in dog theft cases

“I know she’s been stolen because she really does guard me. I don’t want anyone else to go through this.”

Nicola is concerned that Pepper may have been stolen for the purposes of breeding, with the puppies going on to be sold for inflated prices.

She said: “Because of lockdown the value of puppies has gone up at least four times, so a Springer Spaniel that might have been £500 a few years ago is now £2,000.

“I’ve looked on several websites and there are hundreds and hundreds of puppies.”

Anyone with any information about Pepper’s whereabouts is asked to call 07768026767.

In January, Sussex Police launched a dedicated operation ‘Op Collar’, led by the Rural Crime Team, to respond to and help prevent dog thefts.

Anyone with information about a suspected stolen dog is asked to email dogtheft@sussex.pnn.police.uk.