STAFF at a Gwent animal shelter often find pets abandoned on their doorstep - but they were shocked when a thief broke into a pen and stole a puppy from under their noses. "I can't understand it," said Julie Davies, animal care assistant at the RSPCA shelter in Ringland, Newport, pictured with the stolen dog's sister.

Whoever took the nine-week, black-and-tan terrier- cross bitch between noon and 1pm on Friday had to climb over a locked fence.

The shelter was open, but the thief dodged the staff's attentions. The pup came from an unwanted litter and the thief left behind her identical sister. Both had been found new homes.

Ms Davies had to ring the puppy's intended owner to break the bad news. "She was devastated," she said.

She now fears for the safety of the puppy, which had only had her first vaccination. "She wouldn't have been allowed to go out on public grounds, only the garden," she said.

"A youngster may have taken her home and told their parents they found it," said Ms Davies. The centre has always had problems with pets left outside the premises, where they are expected to be looked after.

Dogs tethered to the gate and kittens left in boxes are not unusual. But staff cannot recall anyone ever stealing a pet.

Other theories include theft either for a child's present or for training as a badger-digger. Ms Davies appealed to anyone with information about the puppy to contact either the shelter on 01633 412049 or the police, who are investigating.