A bereaved woman is appealing for the return of her cherished dog which was stolen from her hours after the death of her sister.
Diane Barrett’s beloved four-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier Trigger disappeared after being tied up for a few minutes outside the Tesco Express in Holland Park Avenue late on May 27.
She is now offering a “large reward” for the return of the brown dog, which has a distinctive white patch on his chest.
Ms Barrett, who lives on the Edward Woods Estate in Notting Hill , said: “My sister had breast cancer and died on May 25. I was completely rocked, and then this happened.
“It was the worst couple of days of my life.”
The dog was being walked by her partner Paul when he stopped off at the Tesco branch at around 11.30pm to pick up a tin of dog food.
He tied the pet up but on his return a few minutes later the animal was gone.
“He was calling and calling for him,” said Ms Barrett.
“He was out half the night on his bicycle riding around but there was no sign of him.”
Animal stories
Since then, Ms Barrett has been putting up posters around the area, calling on vets, and been to Battersea, Blue Cross and the RSPCA.
The 46-year-old said: “Every day we’re riding around and putting up posters.
“It’s been an awful month. My sister Barbara was just 49 when she died and in the middle of it all I have been trying to look for this dog.”
She has had the dog, which is chipped and neutered, since he was a six-week-old puppy, and also owns a 10-year-old Staffie called Sammy, which is Trigger’s uncle.
She said: “Sammy’s been pining for him. He won’t go out and he looks around for him all the time.
“Also, he’s not very well, and I’m hoping we can get Trigger back before he goes.
“I don’t have children, these dogs are my children, and I’m desperate to have trigger come home.”
Police said they carried out enquiries and studied the area’s CCTV.
Their investigation continues and no arrests have been made.
Anyone with information should contact police via 101 or Tweet @MetCC, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Ms Barrett is also asking people with information to call her on 07950 929289.
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