Bucks County breeder ‘worried sick’ after 7-week old puppies are stolen

Police in Richland Township are on the lookout for two pricey puppies that were recently stolen from a Quakertown breeder.

The theft, police said, occurred at Willow Spring Kennel on Friday, when an unknown person removed the young dogs from a nursing bin in the Bucks County facility. The pups, two seven-week-old Cavalier King Charles spaniels named Ansel and Adelaide, are valued at more than $3,000 each.

“We are insured, so we’re not worried about any financial loss,” said Jonathan Smith, operational vice president of Willow Spring. “Right now, we are worried sick.”

The dogs are in need of early veterinary treatments, police indicated. Smith added that because of their young age, the puppies are at risk of getting pneumonia, which could kill them within “two to three days.” Cavalier King Charles spaniel puppies are typically taken home by their new owners at 12 or 13 weeks of age, and not weaned until 9 or 10 weeks.

“The breed is very fragile when they are young,” Smith said. “They do need their mothers.”

Police have not indicated any suspects in the case. The kennel, Smith said, did not have surveillance cameras and its doors were unlocked; WiFi cameras have been installed since the theft occurred. The dogs had also been advertised on the Willow Spring Kennel website prior to being stolen on Friday.

The breeder, which began operations in 2005, is offering an undisclosed award for information that leads to the return of the dogs.