A CHARITY has warned dogs could be put down after thieves targeted its rescue centre.

Bosses at Pendle Dogs in Need have described the culprits who broke in to the hub in Burnley Road, Colne, as ‘vile’ and said it was ‘soul-destroying’ for volunteers.

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It is estimated the break-in, which was discovered yesterday morning, could cost the charity up to £1,000, meaning that they won’t have the funds to save some abandoned dogs which are on ‘death row’.

Crime scene investigators were carrying out forensic investigations at the centre yesterday.

No arrests have so far been made in connection with the burglary and no suspect descriptions have been released.

Manager Paul Knowles said: “It’s just soul-destroying. Why would they do this?

“We’re run by volunteers, nobody takes a penny from the charity, and this is a huge setback. We have monthly vet bills of between £4,000 and £5,000 and we are always on the breadline.

“I’d like to meet whoever is responsible and take them with me to the dog pound to meet the dogs on death row that this month we may not be able to help due to some vile person taking our funds and leaving us with a huge repair bill.”

Mrs Knowles said it would cost £700 to repair the door and the break-in would end up setting back the charity around £1,000.

As well as taking £60 in cash, the thieves also stole a charity collection box with an unknown amount in.

After kicking through the PVC front door at the centre, thieves ransacked through drawers of donations leaving the centre ‘like a bomb site’ before escaping with cash and the charity box.

The culprits have been described as ‘despicable’ and ‘disgusting’ by police and community leaders.

PC Nigel Keates said: “This is despicable. It never fails to amaze me how low some people can stoop. These sort of people will not go down well in the community.

“If anyone has seen or heard anything I would urge them to contact the police so we can stop them in their tracks.”

Waterside ward councillor Graham Roach, who has fostered dogs for the charity in the past, said: “I think it’s unbelievable that someone could break in to a charitable organisation that helps so many dogs in the Pendle area. There’s nothing there to steal and they have absolutely ransacked the place. I just can’t believe people could do such a thing. It’s disgusting.

“The people I spoke to are just shocked this has happened to Pendle Dogs in Need.”

A police spokesman said: “We were called around 8.30am on March 30 to reports of a burglary at an address in Burnley Road, in Colne. The theft has been committed some time between 8pm on March 29 and 8am on March 30. The unknown offenders have approached a drop-in centre near a mechanics garage and kicked through a PVC door, and removed items before making off. They have also taken around £60 in cash.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting crime number EG1601853.