A COUPLE have pleaded with three thieves to return their stolen puppy.

The four-month-old Siberian Husky was taken from Aisha and Noy Arzakantsyan’s garden in London Road, Headington.

Police are now searching for the thieves after Ms Arzakantsyan discovered one of their mobile phone numbers.

The gang had tried to sell the pet to a passer-by, who passed on the number, minutes after stealing the dog.

Ms Arzakantsyan said: “People say dogs are like part of the family. Well he is not like part of my family, he is part of my family. He is our puppy and we just want him home.”

The dog, who the family do not want to name so the thieves are not helped in training him, was taken from the garden where he was playing at about 5pm on Friday.

Ms Arzakantsyan and her partner looked for him in the road and asked two men if they had seen their pet.

They said three men had tried to sell the dog to them five minutes earlier.

She said: “One of the men had the number of the person selling the dog, as he had been interested in buying it. So he gave me the number and I rang it.”

Initially, the man answering the phone told her that he was no longer selling the puppy, but later demanded £500.

Ms Arzakantsyan said she had been willing to pay the money and went to meet him at McDonalds in Headington, but he had not shown up.

She said: “I’m really worried. Noy went away for a few weeks last month and the puppy didn’t eat for a week because one of us wasn’t there. They won’t be able to handle him and he won’t be able to sell him, so they should just give him back to us.

Mr Arzakantsyan said: “I can’t believe these people took our puppy. I told them ‘imagine if I stole your baby and asked for money’. That’s what it feels like.”

The last time Ms Arzakantsyan spoke to the man, he said he had taken the dog to a Blue Cross centre, but the charity’s homes at Burford and Lewknor said they had not taken in any huskies.

The dog has blue eyes and the tip of his tail is white. He has been microchipped.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Adam Fisher confirmed police were investigating the theft. Anyone with any information should call Pc James Rudge on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.