AN ANIMAL charity has slammed the "light" sentence handed out to a 25-year-old man for stealing two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels from a Dorset kennels.

Artur Wiese of no fixed address was given 80 hours unpaid community work after pleading guilty to snatching much-loved pets Willoughby and Darcy from Noarck Kennels on Ringwood Road, St Leonards in May.

Helen Griffiths of Parkstone-based charity, Dorset Animal Workers Group, called for stiffer sentences to deter dognapping which she says is on the increase.

She said: "It was a light sentence. Possibly six months or a year in jail would have been better. A dog is classed as property by law but there is more of an emotional element than if your car is broken into or your house.

"There are people who will steal dogs and demand a ransom. A lot of it goes on and also cats. A few years ago cats were going in colour batches.

"And stealing dogs is becoming an easy way to make money. The courts need to sentence harder then people will think twice about doing it if they have to go to jail for a year."

Thankfully Willoughby and Darcy were returned to their owners after police received a tip-off that two worried-looking dogs had been spotted with a group of men at Avon Heath Country Park.

Two other men aged 30 and 31, both of no fixed address, were cautioned in relation to the incident.

Owner Valerie Angell said: "It was a terrible thing to have happened - especially as we were on holiday at the time. However, justice has been done and we are very grateful to Ferndown Police and the amazing work they did to get our dogs back."