The distraught owners of a young dog stolen from a field in Bricket Wood are pleading for their beloved pet’s return, saying his theft has been a ‘hideous’ experience for their children.
Donna Cloke took Ozzy, a micro-chipped 18 month old border terrier, for his usual walk in a field less than 10 minutes walk from their Bricket Wood home two weekends ago.
She explained to the Herts Advertiser: “I took him for a walk on Saturday, May 7, at about 3.30pm, in a public field adjacent to the A405, between the M1 and M25.
“Ozzy is our family dog, and very spoiled but he is very well trained. There were high crops in the field, and a small bank there - he was in front of me and as I walked up the bank, he wasn’t there.
“He had just disappeared. In front of me I could see two men setting up to shoot, on the other side of the bank.
“Ozzy isn’t scared of anyone, and he would normally run up to people and greet them - he is very friendly. So I asked if they’d seen my dog. One of them had three dogs with him, and I was utterly expecting to see Ozzie near them.
“One of the men said he had seen Ozzie walk back towards me, but I didn’t see him.”
Donna said it took some time to fathom that Ozzie was missing. Once she realised, however, that he could not be found, she was joined by other people and they spent until 9pm searching the site.
She added: “Five of us were in the field, and I was expecting to see him. It’s terrible as he is like my little baby. He never bolts away.”
Donna reported Ozzy’s theft to Herts Police. A spokeswoman for the force said that investigations were being carried out after the border terrier went missing in Winch Hill Woods near the A405 North Orbital Road.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on the non-emergency number 101.
There has been a reward offered for the pet’s return, with Donna saying: “We believe he has been sighted in Hemel Hempstead, and we have put posters in Hemel and throughout Bricket Wood.
“It’s terrible, as we have two children, and my son’s birthday was last week and all he wanted was his dog to come back for his birthday; it was hideous for him.
“Our children have been amazing, but they are heartbroken.”
If you have seen Ozzy, or know of his whereabouts, please phone Donna on 0790 4576780.
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