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‘I just want to find my baby’: Pint-sized Akita pup snatched leaving South Manchester dad distraught

Exclusive by Helen Le Caplain

A devastated South Manchester man is trawling the streets of Whalley Range in a desperate bid to find his beloved eight-week-old puppy which was snatched from his home, just one day after they brought him home for the first time.

Father of four Rashid Javed, 27, brought the adorable American Akita pup Simba home on Sunday and spent many happy hours with the family playing with him.

The £500 pup went missing early on Monday morning from the shed where he was sleeping for the night, while his room in the house was made ready for him.

Rashid said “I never cry but I’ve been crying like a baby over this, I just want to find my baby.

“My other half doesn’t really like cats and dogs, but she fell in love with him – we were really looking forward to bringing him up as part of the family.”

They only discovered he was missing after his wife checked up on him after dropping two of the children, aged 5 and 6, off at school.

Rashid sprinted into the garden when he heard the news to discover the shed lock broken and the crate door open with no sign of Simba anywhere.


PINT-SIZED PUP: One of just a handful of pictures the family have

“I’ve been out every day with my brother driving around the area to see if we can see or hear Simba barking.

“My little ones are really upset as they were looking forward to playing with him when they came home from school.

“I’ve reported it to the police who said there was nothing they can do – they’ve created a crime reference number and said to keep an eye out for him.

“I will even pay to get him back and won’t hold anything against the person who did it – I just want him back home where he belongs.”

Simba went missing on November 18 at approximately 7am.

If you have any information call Rashid on 07931 709747.

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