Rescue centre 'fears the worst' as dog is stolen by fake volunteer

A dog rescue centre is appealing to the public for help tracking down a stolen Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Staff at Rosedene Rescue Centre, Radley Road, Walsall, have been left in shock after a woman entered the site on Monday and asked if they could take a dog called Molly for a walk.

The centre welcomes volunteers who want to take their dogs for a walk and ask that they leave identification with staff to ensure nothing like this happens.

However, the woman, who handed over a Polish ID, gave a fake address and didn't return after being allowed to take the 11-month-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross for a walk.

An appeal on behalf of the centre has been shared widely on Facebook as dog lovers look to bring Molly back home.

Staff member Rachel Isley, of the Rosedene Rescue Centre, said: "We have let people take our dogs for walks for a long time but nothing like this has ever happened.

"We are all in shock and very upset, Molly is a lovely dog who was saved by a member of the public after being listed for sale on Gumtree.

"We don't know what she has been taken for and obviously you have to fear the worst."

The Rosedene Rescue Centre is a not for profit home that runs off donations from the public and benefits from kind offers from the public to take dogs at the site for a walk.

However, after Molly was taken, those who wish to do so will have to go through a stricter security process.

Rachel said: "We don't want anything like this to happen again and so now unfortunately we have to ask that people bring a form of identification and two utility bills from the last three months to prove they are who they say they are.

"We were given a fake address this time and we can't take that risk again."

Anyone who can help return Molly to the Rosedene Rescue Centre should call 01922 627013.