A DISABLED man has been left devastated after his puppy was stolen.

Philip Snowdon was manning the counter at the Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary Shop in Accrington when two women came in and started playing with his Alsation dog, Sheba.

One of the pair was haggling with Philip when the other one left. Soon after the second woman left it was noticed Sheba had been stolen.

"Sheba never leaves me," said Philip. "Someone must have taken her with them. She had identity tags on her so if she went missing she would be returned, I am convinced she has been stolen."

Philip, who is registered disabled because of a speech impediment and works at the shop as a volunteer, has only had the puppy for a month but the pair were already inseparable. The 51-year-old lived alone with only Sheba for company at Warwick Road, Church, and has hardly been back since the theft.

"The other volunteers and I were out all night on Tuesday looking for her. We looked through Accrington and Church but there was no sign of Sheba anywhere.

"I carried looking for her on Wednesday and Thursday but there has been no sign."

Philip has told the police about the theft and it is being investigated.

Philip said: "If I will not see Sheba again, then I hope she is in a good home. But I desperately want my dog back."