DOG thieves have stolen two puppies from a rehoming centre.

Staff at the Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre are “devastated” after they arrived for work on Saturday to find the three-month-old lurchers taken.

It is suspected whoever took the dogs had first visited the centre posing as genuine applicants.

The dogs called Munchie and Pickles are both micro-chipped so a vet scan will identify them as stolen.

Munchie is a male pup with distinctive brindle markings on his rough coat and Pickles is a black and white female pup with a smooth coat.

Nick McCoy, centre assistant manager, said: “"All the staff are devastated about the loss of these two beautiful puppies.

“We suspect that whoever has taken them must have previously visited the centre and identified Munchie and Pickles as their targets as nothing else was taken during the break-in.

“We are urging other dog owners and members of the public to keep an eye out for these distinctive puppies so we can get them rehomed to appropriate loving homes as soon as possible."

Staff believe the two puppies will be moved quickly out of the area so has asked local people to be particularly vigilant in looking out for them in the next few days.

Anyone with information about the break in or with suspected sightings of the pups should call the Rehoming Centre directly on 01386 830613.