A pure breed Staffordshire bull terrier has been missing for two days and is suspected to have been stolen from the back garden of the family home.

Keri Ann Wooden, 26, a mother of two young children, says she discovered their beloved dog, Tess, was missing from the garden on Monday lunchtime.

A panel of their six foot garden fence at their home in Sutton Road, Walthamstow, had been removed and there were foot marks on the remaining fence panels as if someone had tried to damage the fence to gain entry.

Tess was rescued from her previous owners when she was two, where she was being over-bred, giving birth to five litters in just two years.

Tess, now eight, always looks pregnant because of this treatment and a pregnant pure breed is valuable to dog breeders.

Miss Wooden suspects this is why Tess was stolen. Miss Wooden’s children, aged three and seven are very upset by Tess’s disappearance and the whole family are desperate to get her back at home.

Miss Wooden said: “My son thinks about her getting hurt and gets very upset.

“I just keep saying ‘we’ll find her’.

“He asks about her every morning and every night before bed.”

Miss Wooden has reported the incident to the police and to local dog rescue organisations but she has not had any news yet.

The police have confirmed that they have an appointment to visit the scene and take a statement from Miss Wooden.

Anyone who has information about Tess should contact Waltham Forest Police by dialling 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.