A PET owner yesterday pleaded with thieves who stole her precious pups to bring them back.

Pam Burns, 38, was visiting the vet's with her other dog on Monday when the pups disappeared from her home in Errol Street.

She believes that Lassie, a ten-week-old springer spaniel cross bitch, and Jessie, a 12-week-old border collie cross bitch, were lured through the cat flap in her back door as there were no signs of forced entry.

"I've only had Lassie since she was about five weeks old and I was minding Jessie for my sister," said Miss Burns, who lives alone and cannot work because of depression and epilepsy.

"But I miss Lassie like anything and my little Jack Russell, Patch, is fretting over her too. All I want is my dogs back. The police can't understand why they have been taken and neither can I."

Lassie is black with white patches and Jessie is black with a white belly.

Anyone with information about the pups is asked to call PC Jane Langley, of Middlesbrough police, on (01642) 303126.