Emily Walker
Police have recovered a dachshund and her five puppies from a puppy mill in Tadley. On Wednesday, August 11, officers went to an address on Sandy Lane in Tadley after receiving information from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
They were informed that a puppy mill was at the site, and a dachshund named Bella had been discovered. She was subsequently identified as having been stolen from Aylesford, Kent, in November 2017.
It is believed the puppy had been taken from her mother too early. She was nine weeks old, whereas she should have been between 12 and 16 weeks old before being separated from her mum.
On Thursday, police returned to the premises with an RSPCA inspector and found four more pups – three of which are thought to be dachshunds and the other a beagle.
They have taken Bella and her puppies for surgery before they will go into RSPCA care.
A man and a woman were arrested on suspicion of theft in connection with the case. They have both been bailed until September 11, pending further inquiries.
Aylesford police said on their Facebook page that they are “so pleased” to have found Bella and can confirm she has been returned home.
They also thanked Surrey Police for helping Kent officers with the investigation.
On Wednesday, August 11, emergency services were first notified of a puppy in distress at Sandy Lane, Tadley. Bella was discovered lying on the grass in front of the property with five of her pups confined inside a cage.
The owners of the address, a man and woman in their 40s, were arrested on suspicion of theft.
Officers who attended found that Bella had been taken from her mother too early. She was nine weeks old, whereas she should have been between 12 and 16 weeks old before being separated from her mum.
She was treated at the scene before being taken to a veterinary surgeon.
The pups are now in RSPCA care.
RSPCA inspectors are investigating the circumstances surrounding the puppies’ removal from their mother, but no arrests have been made in connection with this case. The owners of the address remain under investigation for theft in connection with Bella’s removal.
Kent Police helped officers with the inquiry as Bella had been stolen from Aylesford in November 2017. Officers visited the property on Wednesday, August 11 and Thursday, August 12, to recover four more pups – three of which are thought to be dachshunds and the other a beagle.
PC Michael Evans, of Hampshire Constabulary’s Rural Crime Team, said: “This is a very unpleasant case whereby these puppies have clearly been removed from their mother far too soon in order for them to be sold for a quick profit.
“We are working with officers in Kent Police to establish how this puppy came to be stolen from Kent and the circumstances around her removal.
“We are also working with the RSPCA who will now look after all six puppies.”
Anyone with information on this theft should contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting 44180467435. Or you can call the independent charity, the RSPCA.