Police find nine-year-old girl's stolen puppy but say she can't have it back

After saving up for months for a pedigree puppy, Leanne Stewart did the sensible thing and had her new pet microchipped.

So when the mother-of-two's Chinese shar pei Millie was stolen from her back garden, she at least had the comfort of hoping she would eventually be returned to them.



It took more than six months but, eventually, the £750 puppy was traced. Miss Stewart - and more importantly her nine-year-old daughter Megan - were expecting an emotional reunion with the pet. But this has been dashed by police.

They have been told that they cannot take Millie off the new owner because the man bought the dog in good faith - despite the microchip proving she is Miss Stewart's.



Now she faces the agonising choice between a lengthy - and potentially expensive - legal battle or accepting she will never see her puppy again.

Yesterday the 31-year-old told how the bitter blow had only added to the heartache caused to Megan and one-year-old Kayden, following the death of their father at Christmas.