Family refuses to move on from stolen dogs

Georgie Bell has clapped back at a member of the Missing Ruby and Beetle Facebook page who told the owner of the two Border Terriers, "It's time to move on."

Georgie replied, saying: "The reality of the situation is I can’t, - not while I know they are out there.”

The careless comment was made after a refreshed plea from Georgie, as information had been shared that the Terriers could have been in the North East area of the region.

Georgie told us: "How can you forget two important members of your family, they’re still alive, still out there, someone knows something, have we not reached the people who took them or have them now?

"The reward is there for information leading to their safe return."

But, for the most part, support in the search for the two small dogs is ready in abundance. The Facebook page alone has nearly 11,000 members and is posted in almost every day. Members share information, offer advice or pledge themselves to Ruby and Beetle's cause.

Last Christmas the Bell family had their Border terriers stolen, and after nearly 42 weeks, they haven't stopped searching.

Both dogs are microchipped but this has so-far not aided the search.

Georgie explained: "The hard cold facts that we have to microchip our dogs by law, but in reality, in this situation it doesn’t help find them or get them back.

"We learnt in August that Beetle’s microchip number was in-putted into a microchip checker tool on the front of a chip website. She belongs to us, my dog, our family pet, registered to me but we are not allowed this information as it comes down to the GDPR act.

"We have been following this up since then and we are no further forward in retrieving this information.

"The Police are now fortunately helping with our enquires."

There's no certainty that the Border Terrier mother and daughter are still together, and fears were raised that they may be used as breeders in a puppy farm.

The Facebook page has be awash with potential sightings in Northumberland, North Wales and around the Borders. Sadly, none of these have been of Ruby and/or Beetle.

And although the dogs haven't been found, efforts to make the dogs 'too hot to handle' (making it unsafe for the thieve(s) to keep the dogs) have been continuous. The idea being that the more people know of the lost pets, the more likely it is that they will be returned tot he family.

The family have provided details of the dogs: Ruby, is six years old, has a distinctive band on her tail and a pea-sized lump under the fur between her eyes. Beetle is three years old, also has a distinctive band on her tail and has a scar under the fur on her chin. Both dogs are microchipped. If seen together, Ruby has a slightly darker coat than her pup Beetle.

The search for the dogs has also received support from some well known names. Lorraine Kelly, who owns a Border Terrier herself, tweeted about the stolen dogs, her tweet read: "This is very sad, I don’t know what I’d do if Angus went missing."

Actress Brenda Blethyn, athlete Eilidh Doyle and ITV newsreader Alastair Stewart have given their voices to the campaign, especially on Twitter using the hashtag, #findrubyandbeetle

Georgie added: "For the sake of my children, I can’t just walk away, whilst they’re still of the age to be found, I won’t give up looking, hoping we get them back.

"Unless you have walked in the shoes of dog theft you will never fully understand how it affects you."

The reward for the safe return of the missing Bell family dogs is £10,000.

The family's heartfelt plea: "We've literally been torn apart.

“We just want our two beautiful dogs returned safely so that our family can be complete again in time for Christmas.”

For more information about the dogs and ways to help or to share a potential sighting, visit www.findrubyandbeetle.com or call the campaign on 07885 712165.