It’s with a heavy heart that Melissa Baylis recalls the day she last saw her precious pooch, Nelly, on November 21 in Ashton-under-Lyne. At first, she assumed Nelly had found a way to escape through their garden fence, but upon closer inspection, it seemed highly unlikely due to the small gap. After taking a picture of her garden before Nelly’s disappearance, Melissa noticed that a container was missing, causing her to pause and consider its significance.

Melissa started to think that her cute nine-week-old puppy, Nelly, who is a Maltese Jack Russell Chihuahua, might have been taken away by someone. Melissa mentioned that Nelly was so tiny that it could only fit through a three-finger wide opening. She immediately reported this incident to the police and shared a post on Facebook asking for help. However, her hopes were shattered when her mother received a text from an unknown person stating that they found Nelly but refused to return her to Melissa and her family.

According to Melissa’s mother, a kind-hearted woman sent a picture of a dog, believed to be Nelly, feeding in a house before deleting her Facebook account. The message informed them that around 1 pm on November 21, they found their dog wandering around Ashton-under-Lyne. Melissa’s mother expressed her concern for Nelly since her disappearance, stating that the furry friend had only been with the family for a week before going missing.

The statement mentioned that the dog was discovered unharmed, but since the owner had displayed irresponsibility, the only option left was to find a secure and caring home for the animal. The statement also hinted at the possibility of reporting the owner to the RSPCA. A spokesperson from the Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the matter was being looked into.

Melissa expressed uncertainty about the authenticity of the account as it only sends a message without any further activity. The woman who owned the account has also deleted it, leaving no means of communication. Consequently, Melissa had to report the incident to the police again for further action. However, there have been no arrests made yet, and investigations are still in progress.

The situation must be very upsetting for the owners of the dog. As an organization that prioritizes animal welfare, the RSPCA does not handle pet theft incidents directly and leaves law enforcement matters to the police. However, a representative of the RSPCA advises dog owners to take additional measures to safeguard their furry friends by making sure they have a microchip implanted with current contact information on record.

Consider getting your pet a collar that has its contact details embroidered or an ID tag that is engraved. This way, in case your furry friend goes missing, whoever finds it can quickly reach out to you.

The spokesperson suggested that it is not safe to leave pets tied up outside stores or in unattended cars. It is advisable to keep the yard secure with locked doors. In case someone suspects their dog to be stolen, they must inform the police immediately and register the pet as stolen with the microchip company. They should also inform local rescue groups, veterinarians, dog walkers, and neighbors.

We are all saddened to hear about Nelly’s theft and we hope that Melissa and her family are able to recover her soon. It is important for the authorities to investigate and find out who is responsible for this act. Our hearts go out to Melissa and her family during this difficult time.