Pups seek out new life with UN after mum vanishes

Missing you... the puppies' mother, Puffin, who has vanished, being cuddled by owner Tabitha Millard, 21

Three puppies have left Britain to prepare for a new life as search and rescue dogs weeks after their mother vanished.

Owner Anne-Marie Millard, 57, who runs a kennels in Uggeshall, Suffolk, said two male English Springer Spaniels and one female would be training to work with United Nations (UN) forces.

Miss Millward said the excitement over males Scout and Seeka, and female Kaimi, had been blighted by the disappearance of their mother, Puffin.

She said she thought four-year-old Puffin, who went missing on 22 September, had been stolen and urged anyone with information to get in touch.

Puppy Kaimi who is training to be a UN search and rescue dog

Miss Millard said she had been contacted by an organisation that supplied dogs to the UN some weeks ago.

She said the three puppies, now around 16 weeks old, had been selected and prepared.

"They thought some of our puppies might be suitable," said Miss Millward, who runs Uggeshall Kennels and breeds dogs.

"Three were selected, and we started preparing them.

"All three have now left us and gone abroad."

Miss Millard said she could not say where the puppies would be working.

Puppy Scout who has left her home and Suffolk to train as a search and rescue dog

She said Puffin, who is four and black and white, vanished while playing outside when the puppies were about 12 weeks old.

Miss Millard said Puffin belonged to her 21-year-old daughter Tabitha.

Puffin had disappeared around the time a van had delivered a parcel and police had been informed, Miss Millward said.

"I'm sure Puffin was stolen," said Miss Millard.

"We noticed she was gone about 15 minutes after we saw her.

"We searched using drones but there was no sign.

"People steal dogs to sell on as pets."

She said detail about Puffin's disappearance had been posted online.

Puppy Seeka who is training to work with UN forces

Miss Millward said a dog matching Puffin's description had been seen running loose in Lowestoft, Suffolk.

She urged anyone with information to get in touch.

"I'd appeal to people who might have been offered or bought a Springer Spaniel," she said.

"Maybe one has arrived in the area or someone has heard a new dog barking.

"It's very upsetting, and we need to find her."

Happier days: Tabitha Millard with her pet dog Puffin, who disappeared nearly a month ago