Family's dog missing after kennels break-in

Drones have been used in the search for Pixie (light brown dog) and a Patterdale terrier

A dog owner said she has "hardly slept a wink" since her dog ran away during a break-in at a West Yorkshire kennel.

Three-year-old Pixie was among a number of dogs that ran away during a burglary at Crystal Spring Kennels, in Leeds, at about 01:00 BST on Sunday.

Her owner, Justine Pennington, said two of the family's pets - Zelda, a German shepherd and Pearl, a dachshund - were brought back to the kennel but Pixie, an Isabella Dapple Dachshund, was still missing.

West Yorkshire Police said a 47-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident and released on bail.

The family's dogs (left to right) Zelda, Pixie and Pearl

Ms Pennington, 41, from Ravenscliffe, Bradford, said the family had been on holiday in Cornwall when they were informed the kennels had been burgled.

She said the family had immediately ended their holiday and returned to Yorkshire.

"My stomach dropped when I heard the news," Ms Pennington said.

"We've hardly slept since.

"We've had drones up but there have been no sightings. We're heartbroken."

'Worst nightmare'

Three dogs were missing initially, with Arnold, a French Bulldog, found at about 23:00 BST on Sunday, kennels owner Lesley Hirst said.

Pixie, who has been with the Pennington family since she was a puppy, and a brown Patterdale Terrier are both yet to be found.

"We've just got to find them," said 64-year-old Ms Hirst.

"It's my worst nightmare. I'm not sleeping."

Ms Hirst, whose mother opened the kennels in 1969, said K9 SAR, a voluntary group which searches for lost animals, had been "fantastic".

She said: "They've not stopped looking, knocking on doors, putting up posters."

In a statement West Yorkshire Police said: "We are investigating a burglary at this location.

"A 47-year-old man has been arrested and bailed pending further inquiries."

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