American bulldog puppies stolen in Bournemouth as breeder slept

Police are urging people to be on the lookout for the puppies being offered for sale

Nine American bulldog puppies have been stolen from a home while their breeder slept upstairs.

Dorset Police said the victim was woken by "male voices" but by the time they got downstairs the raiders had fled.

The puppies, which can be worth thousands of pounds each, were grabbed from the home in the Charminster Road area of Bournemouth early on Tuesday.

The owner of six of the puppies told the BBC she was "hoping and praying" they would be found.

The nine dogs staying at the breeder's home were from two litters, six aged four weeks old and three aged eight weeks.

'I need them home'

Sam Kittle, whose dog Chaos is the mother of the four-week-old puppies, said: "It's heartbreaking, she's lost.... she's so sad, she's just staring into space.

"I'm just hoping and praying that someone hands them in."

She added the puppies were still feeding on their mother's milk.

Efforts to find the them on social media have attracted hundreds of responses.

Miss Kittle said: "Thank you for the support, it's overwhelming - I just need them home."

Officers want to talk to anyone with CCTV footage from the area at the time of the burglary at about 04:20 BST.

The force is also urging people to come forward if they see the puppies advertised for sale.