A puppy who was snatched from home late at night four weeks ago has still not been found.

Lucy, an English springer spaniel, was stolen from a farm in Cliffe on December 18.

Her heartbroken owner Leigh Loveridge is still waiting for positive news.

She said: “There have been lots of people getting in touch, my phone hasn’t stopped. It is brilliant in some ways because people are looking out for her, but it is difficult when the sightings turn out not to be her.

“There was another spaniel found locally this week and I had 100 messages on the Help Find Lucy page in one day, but it wasn’t her.”

Lucy was in kennels she shares with two adult labradors when she was taken. The wooden framed window of the building was forced open during the break-in and it is believed she was passed out through the window, while the two larger dogs were left.

Miss Loveridge, 25, got engaged to her partner Walter Light on Christmas Eve but she said it was “bittersweet” because she is so upset about Lucy.

The family have taken to social media to help with their search, as well as printing off posters and will be putting out a reward for her safe return. Almost 9,000 people are following the Help Find Lucy Facebook page.

Miss Loveridge said Lucy has a distinctive brown spot above her tail which, even as Lucy gets older, will still be recognisable. She is speckled white and has a brown head with a triangle of white.

Police have appealed for help and anyone with information should call the appeal line on 01474 366149 or Miss Loveridge directly on 07870 497718 or 07527 645192.

Another spaniel has had a happy ending.

Jasmil Kennels were inundated with messages and requests to own an unnamed eight-week-old pup dumped over the centre’s fence in Upchurch.

Demand for the chocolate brown dog was so great the shelter’s Facebook page crashed and owner Corinna Shuttlewood had to create a waiting list.

A family from Gillingham, who have named the dog Nikita, collected it on Monday afternoon.

Mrs Shuttlewood, who runs the centre with her husband Barry, said the puppy wasn’t microchipped, which had made it difficult to find who it may belong to.

From April 6, it will become compulsory for all dogs over the age of eight weeks to be chipped.

Mrs Shuttlewood said: “It’s really important that dogs are chipped and registered so that places like us are not stuck in a situation like this where we are left in an endless search.”