The owner of eight pedigree puppies worth thousands of pounds says their lives have been put at risk after they were stolen from their home in Ilkley.

The two-week-old puppies, worth about £6,000, are still too young to eat solids and owner Jayne Douglas, of Ilkley, believes there is a risk they will not survive if they do not receive the proper care and attention they need.

Residents have been urged to contact police if anyone tries to sell them very young looking puppies without documentation after the eight cocker-spaniels were stolen on Wednesday.

Miss Douglas said it was hard to believe someone could take the puppies who were too young to be taken away from their home.

She said: “They still need specialist care and are too young to eat solids, so there is a real risk they will not survive.

“They are only two weeks old and are only just at the stage where they are opening their eyes.

“I just can’t believe someone would have taken them as they were clearly too young to be moved or taken away from home.”

The Wharfedale and Craven Neighbourhood Police Team has advised anyone in the Ilkley or neighbouring areas to contact them if they are offered a pedigree cocker spaniel.

The puppies were taken between 2.15pm and 4.15pm on Wednesday from the Ilkley address.

Police said they were progressing several lines of inquiry. The puppies are three black and white coloured males, two lemon and white females and three lemon and white males.

Inspector Sue Sanderson, of the Wharfedale and Craven Neighbour-hood Police Team, said: “We are now investigating this theft and pursuing lines of inquiry. These puppies are only very young and will obviously look too young for sale to anyone who is offered one.

“I would ask anyone in the community who is offered a very young looking cocker spaniel puppy for sale without any paperwork or identification to contact us immediately.”

Anyone who has information about the theft, who may have been offered one of the puppies, or has any information about them, is urged to contact the Wharfedale and Craven NPT on (01274) 475301.