A BRIDE’S wedding night was ruined when she returned home to find seven of her dogs had been stolen.

Thieves stole four miniature schnauzers, a toy poodle and two dachshunds during a raid at Diane Cross’ Rishton home.

The 49-year-old greyhound trainer arrived home from her wedding reception to a scene of devastation.

She said: “When I arrived back in my wedding dress at around 11.45pm, I found three dogs running loose, and the kennel doors broken. The other seven dogs were gone.

“I had to go and get changed to chase after the three dogs. It was not the way I wanted to take my wedding dress off. I wanted a romantic night, but it was ruined.”

Mrs Cross said she believed her Hermitage Street home was purposefully targeted, and has since given away two of her remaining dogs.

She said: “They were not safe here. I was very upset. I have had the dogs for years. Two of them were pregnant, so whoever has them will have puppies, which are valuable too.

“I don’t think I will ever see them again. The thieves have wiped me out in one night and they did it on purpose.”

Mrs Cross, who said she had £1,200 stolen from a safe during a burglary last year, said: “The thieves also left plastic gloves behind but the police said the samples taken from them were inconclusive.

“Whoever did it vandalised my white Transit van too. I’m a bit isolated but I’ve lived here for 25 years and have never had a dog stolen before.

“It had to be have been somebody who would know I would be out.”

PC Johanna Maden, from Rishton’s neighbourhood policing team, appealed for information about the incident, which happened between 3pm and 11.45pm on Saturday, September 21.

She said: “The RSPCA has also been notified and is checking all the pet sales websites.

“It should also be noted that two of the female schnauzers were pregnant. The owners of these dogs have been left devastated and we want to do all we can to reunite them with their pets.”

Anybody with any information can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.