CONCERN is mounting for the welfare of a young dog stolen from a Lancaster animal sanctuary.

Sammy, an 18-months-old German Shepherd, was taken from Animal Care, Hala, on Friday by a woman with a young child.

She visited the charity's Blea Tarn centre and expressed an interest in re-homing the short-haired dog.

The woman, who is said to be about 20 with a short bleached blonde ponytail, filled in an application form with false details.

And then, after spending some time with the black and tan dog, she disappeared with him.

Sanctuary manager Steven Wakelin describes her as about five-feet-six-inches tall, with a large frame and a local accent.

He told the Citizen: "Sammy came to us during Christmas after he was abandoned and was due to be destroyed. But now we are very concerned about him.

"We cannot understand why someone would fill in false details and just walk off with him it is very worrying. The woman should have paid a donation for him, which helps us to pay the veterinary bills, but the money is irrelevant because the most important thing to us is to know that he is well, safe and sound and has a good home for the rest of his life."

He says the sanctuary is very thorough about checking would-be owners and their homes, adding: "We are not in the business of just giving dogs away."

He says the sanctuary has only once had a dog snatched before, although staff have had problems when walking dogs.

"Volunteers have been approached while out walking by people offering them money to take dogs from them, but we have only ever had one taken and the police traced it to an address in Blackpool," adds Steven.

He says the dog can easily be traced and urges anyone with information to call police on 01524-63333, Crime stoppers on 0800-555111 or Animal Care on 01524-65495.