Dognapper leaves woman heartbroken as puppy is snatched

A WOMAN has been left distraught after a dognapper snatched her nine-week-old puppy from the arms of a friend out for a walk along an East End canal. Art gallery director Naomi Murtagh had only had Coco the tiny cockapoo puppy for a few days when she was

A WOMAN has been left distraught after a dognapper snatched her nine-week-old puppy from the arms of a friend out for a walk along an East End canal.

Art gallery director Naomi Murtagh had only had Coco the tiny cockapoo puppy for a few days when she was grabbed from the hands of her dog walker on the Hertford Union Canal towpath near Gunmakers Lane last Thursday morning.

Coco, who is only as big as a human hand, is a cross between a cocker spaniel and a poodle with brown fur and a white patch under her neck.

Naomi, 30, of Aberavon Road, Bow, said: "We have put out a lot of posters in the area and spoken to as many people as possible.

"We are very distraught about this and want to find her, as she is very tiny and vulnerable. We only had her for four days but we adored her."

The dognappper has been described by police as a slim black man, aged 18-22, wearing a blue hooded top and blue jeans.

A spokeswoman said: "He commented that the dog was nice then reached forward and grabbed the puppy out of the dog walker's arms and ran down the canal path where she lost sight of him."

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact PC Nens Corran in the robbery squad on 020 8217 3838 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.