FOUR men arrested in Redditch on suspicion of the theft of dogs and animal cruelty offences have been released on police bail while enquiries continue.
The men were in brought into custody following a call from a member of the public who reported suspicious activity.
Police were called to Bordesley Lane, Redditch, on Tuesday afternoon, December 8, and on arrival, discovered a vehicle containing dogs and puppies as well as a large amount of cash.
A second vehicle was later found with more dogs and puppies.
The four were arrested on suspicion of theft of dogs and animal cruelty offences.
A total of 44 dogs and puppies were recovered and are being assessed by local rescue centres, vet surgeries and the RSPCA where they will remain whilst investigations continue.
Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Woods said “We have recovered these puppies following vital intelligence from a member of the public.
“We are working hard to establish where these dogs have come from, as we suspect a number of them may have been stolen.
“We are not in a position to release details about each individual dog until they have all been assessed and scanned for microchips.
“We ask for the public’s patience whilst this takes place and if any of these dogs are identified as stolen, owners will of course be contacted in due course.
“With the national demand for dogs and puppies on the rise we would like to remind our communities to be extra vigilant when looking to purchase a dog or puppy.
“Make sure you do your research to ensure that you are buying from a legitimate breeder or rescue centre.
“We would encourage any would-be dog owners to have a look at the Puppy Contract for useful information and resources about buying a new a pet.
“If you have any information that may help us with our enquiries please get in touch with us online quoting incident 00181_I_08122020.”
