Fundraiser after stolen Staffies returned to Bexley owners

Kuna and Sasha were taken from a back garden near Bexley's Broadway Shopping Centre in late July, leaving their owners "absolutely distraught."

CCTV captured the two dogs being taken around 7:30pm, followed by several sightings around Erith and south east London.

Alongside a police investigation, a number of social media campaigns were launched to try and get the pups back to owner Karolina, who had been "left devastated and worried sick."

Amazingly, the dogs were returned just before the weekend after they were found tied to a tree.

A man who had seen the Facebook post recognised the dogs when he saw them, and contacted the owners to return them.

The story took a turn however, when one of the pups, Sasha, immediately fell ill.

Karolina, 25, said: "Just as we were getting on with our lives again, Sasha had to be rushed to the vets.

"It turned out to be heart failure, which the vets think was more then likely caused from stress of the ordeal. "Who knows what they had gone through in that week they were missing!"

Karolina added that the vet bill is already at £1,200, more than the family can afford, but are now receiving help from a fundraiser set up to help pay for it.

Sasha has now been in hospital for the past three days due to the heart failure, and could need an urgent operation. The puppy unfortunately doesn't have pet insurance.

The Missing Paws Team, a group set up to help search for lost and stolen pets, is supporting the fundraiser after hearing news of Sasha's return.

"If you can donate something however small to help, I am sure they would be very grateful as they are struggling to come to terms with what has recently happened to them."

Karolina added: "From me and the family, I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who shared and kept an eye out, to the Missing Paws team and a thank you in advance to any donations towards getting Sasha back healthy."

The fundraiser can be found here.