Leeds couple still appealing for help to find dog taken in van theft
Five dogs were in the back of the van when it was stolen in Rothwell last week - with one still missing
Last updated 29th Jan 2024
A Leeds couple have appealed for help after a van containing their five dogs was stolen in Rothwell.
Dog trainer Davina Wiles and her husband run Walkabout Hounds Training Centre at Swithens Farm in Rothwell. They had just finished a class last Tuesday afternoon (23rd January) when their white Ford Transit was taken from outside.
Four of the dogs were then found that night in the Middleton area, but a five-year-old cocker spaniel Vixen is still missing.
CCTV footage shows the van pulling into a road and parking up. The people inside walk away, then return 90 minutes later to open the back doors after it’s believed they may have seen the Facebook posts about the missing van and realised there were dogs inside.
Four of the dogs – two labradors and two cockers – are seen being let out of the van, but Davina and James are still unsure whether Vixen got out with them. They say the thieves may not have realised she was in there due to the position of her cage.
They haven’t had any confirmed sightings of Vixen but say they have had several scam posts from people using old images of other cocker spaniels.
Over the last week Davina and James have continued searching the local area on foot and using drones, as well as looking for any houses with CCTV or doorbell footage. Yesterday they also went to a cross country event at Middleton Park where they were able to reach 1,400 people with pictures of Vixen and a tannoy announcement.
Davina says the response has been overwhelming:
“It’s not just this country, we’ve had messages from Australia and New Zealand saying they’re following the story.
“I just can’t thank people enough because they have just been dedicating their time, coming out in all weathers.
“She’s out there somewhere. Maybe someone has picked her up and thought ‘oh look I’ve got a brand new dog’. So we do ask that if anyone knows of anyone that’s suddenly got a brand new cocker spaniel, get in touch with us.
“If you are the people that have got Vixen, we just want her back. Take her to a vets, you can just say that you’ve found her.
“Tie her up somewhere and put a message in or make a phone call to say you’ve seen her.
“Just bring her back.”
She added there is a substantial reward available for Vixen coming home.
Anyone with any information can call 07827 781965 or 07794738753.