THE OWNER of a stolen 14-week old Labrador Retriever puppy says his six-year-old son has lost his best friend and has urged the thief to give him in to the authorities.
Dominic Goutarbe, 37, from Matlock, Derbyshire, was parked outside a Frankie and Benny’s restaurant in Coventry yesterday (January 28) with his precious puppy in the back of his pick-up truck.
The emotional owner says the golden Labrador pup was concealed in a cage and could have been mistaken for a tool box.
He came back to his car to find a smashed window and his puppy had been taken.
He said: “He’s my little mate, a cracking little pup who lies on me and plays with me.
“My six-year-old son is devastated – he’s been crying all morning.
“I have been on the phone doing everything I can to get him back.
“I’m struggling to get my head round the fact we might never see him again.
“I just hope whoever has him can see it in their hearts to return him safely.”
The retriever was taken from the restaurant car park in Cross Point Business Park, Gielgud Way, Coventry.
The regional coordinator for Dog Lost UK Lisa Phipps said: “This beautiful Labrador male puppy was stolen from a vehicle in a car park in Coventry, near to Premier Inn, Coventry East M6 Junction 2, on Monday, January 28.
“His name has been witheld for security purposes
“The vehicle he was stolen from is a Mitsubishi L200 (blue with white top box) and Coventry Police are checking CCTV of the area including the entrance and the exits to the car park.
“The puppy is microchipped and there is a stolen alert on his record. Dog wardens, holding kennels and local vets are also aware the puppy is missing.
“If you have ANY information contact Doglost in confidence on 0844 800 3220.”
Dog Lost is the UK’s largest free lost and found dog service, its website says.
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “An investigation is under way after a puppy was taken from a car in Gielgud Way, Coventry between 7.30pm and 9.45pm last night (January 28).
“The windows of a Mitsubishi Warrior were smashed and the 14-week-old Golden Labrador puppy was taken, along with a laptop.
“Anyone with information can contact us, quoting crime reference number 20CV/23768M/18 via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, call 101 anytime or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
UPDATE:
The dog’s owner Rebecca Goutorbe thanked those who shared the appeal to help reunite the family with their beloved pet.
She said: “Thank you. You made the pup ‘too hot to handle’ and he has been dumped and found.”
