Police baffled by theft of puppies from Perthshire kennels

Police have said they have “exhausted all avenues” of investigation into the theft of six puppies and death of three others in Highland Perthshire.

After an unconfirmed suggestion that the labradors, who were four-and-a-half-weeks old at the time, could have been put up for sale in Wales, it would seem officers are still baffled by the callous crime, which took place overnight on December 11/12, from kennels in Killiecrankie.

The dogs’ owner, Darren Smith, 29, had said he could not understand why someone would steal the puppies and leave three others lying dead in the kennels.

However, despite several forces being involved in the crime, no breakthrough has been achieved.

A police spokesman said: “We’ve pretty much exhausted all avenues of our investigation.

“We looked in to the possibility that the dogs could be sold in Wales so we contacted police down there.

“We looked into it as much as we could but feel we have now exhausted all avenues of inquiry,” he added.