A DISTRAUGHT breeder is offering a reward for the return of two rare dogs stolen during a regular afternoon exercise walk.

Maxine O'Connor, from Moss Bank, had just finished giving the two pedigree German wire-haired pointers - a 20-month-old dog called Isaac and a 14-month-old bitch called Spice - their daily walk around Carr Mill Dam, when the dog-nappers struck.

The liver and white ticked dogs, which have been entered in Crufts for the first time this year, had run ahead to the car. They were out of Maxine's sight for barely a couple of minutes, but when she arrived at the car they had disappeared. She called the dogs but there was no response and afterwards she saw a blue transit van driving off towards Carr Mill Road.

Maxine, who imported Isaac from Holland and bred Spice herself, told the Star: "Both dogs are very much part of the family and we desperately want them back. They have a great temperament, which is typical of their breed, and they're greatly missed."

There are believed to be only about 500 German wire-haired pointers in the UK, of which some 50 or 60 are show dogs. Isaac (kennel name Femke's Footsteps Isaac at Kimmax) cost £5,000 and is believed to be worth about £30,000 stud value, while Spice (kennel name Kimmax Klassique) is worth £2,000.

Detective Inspector Jon Dawson of St Helens police station said: "We would like to talk to the owner of a blue transit van who may have been in the Carr Mill Dam area on Tuesday, January 2 at about midday, so that we can eliminate him from our inquiries.

"Both of these dogs are pedigrees and very valuable, but without their official pedigree papers they are not worth anything and they cannot be used for breeding.

"They are very dear to the O'Connor family and Mrs O'Connor is offering a reward for information leading to the recovery of the animals and the prosecution of the offenders,"

ANYONE with information can contact the Crime Management Unit at St Helens police station on 0151 777 6053l.

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