Thefts of a litter of two-week old puppies and a much-loved pet have sparked fears that thieves are stealing ‘designer’ dogs to order from the Ilkley area.

Police made an appeal for the public to help trace eight tiny cocker spaniel puppies taken from Ilkley last Wednesday, as the owner feared the vulnerable pups may not survive without specialist care.

Two of the pups have now been recovered in Bradford, but the day after the disappearance of the dogs, an Ilkley woman had her pet chihuahua stolen from outside a Ben Rhydding store while she was inside shopping.

It has also emerged that pedigree dogs have recently been taken from Silsden.

Although police are not currently linking the theft of the spaniel pups with the theft of the long-haired chihuahua, Ilkley-based animal charity West Yorkshire Animals in Need is worried that thieves are on the lookout for pedigree animals in the area.

Co-founder of the charity, Tommi Townsend, said: “ I think we have a serious problem of ‘designer’ dog theft on our hands in the area in the hope of making a quick buck. We have to make the public aware that they must not leave their dogs alone for even a second as opportunist thieves are at work.”

Ilkley resident Jodie Bradbury is offering a reward for the safe return of her four-year-old chihuahua bitch, Roxy, who disappeared after she left her tied up outside The Original Factory Shop, Leeds Road, last Thursday afternoon.

Jodie, 27, has launched a poster campaign and appeal via social network website Facebook and YouTube in a bid to trace her pet, which she says has breathing problems and requires a special diet as she suffers from allergies.

Jodie said: “Roxy is not lost – she has been taken, and we need to find her quickly. She’ll be very frightened and desperate to come home.”

Roxy is chocolate and tan, with a white chest, a rare colour combination in the breed.

“She has breathing problems which affect her nose and make her ‘snort’ like a piglet,” said Jodie. “This makes her very distinguishable, though – along with her coat, it makes her the only dog in the country that looks and sounds the way she does. Somebody, somewhere, must have seen something of her.”

Roxy disappeared between 2pm and 2.20pm. Roxy’s owner says a white van was seen on CCTV pulling up outside the shop, and she believes the occupants may have taken the dog.

The spaniel pups were taken from Ilkley last Wednesday, between 2.15pm and 4.15pm, prompting police to make an appeal for anyone who had been offered a pedigree cocker spaniel puppy to contact officers at once.

They were said to be too young to eat solid food.

Their owner, Jayne Douglas, said: “I just can’t believe someone would have taken them as they were clearly too young to be moved or taken away from home.”

The puppies are described as three black and white coloured dogs, two lemon and white – a pale orange-looking colour – bitches and three lemon and white dogs.

Two of the pups have now been found and returned to their owner.

West Yorkshire Police say they found the dogs at a caravan site on Back Bowling Lane, Bradford, on Friday. Police said a 25-year-old woman had been interviewed under caution in connection with the discovery.

Inspector Sue Sanderson, of Wharfedale and Craven Neighbourhood Policing Team, said police were not linking the theft of Roxy with the theft of the spaniel pups, or thefts of dogs in Silsden, although she said it cannot be ruled out.

She asked anyone with information on any of the thefts, or who knows the whereabouts of the missing dogs, to contact the NPT on 01274 475301.

Jodie is asking anyone with information on Roxy to contact her on 01943 430172, 07854 744873 or 07970 720915.