A pregnant Scots mum has been left distraught after thieves broke into her home and stole her French bulldog puppy while she was at work.
Charlotte Hodgkinson, 26, left her house in Elgin shortly before 5pm on Saturday January 22.
When the barmaid got home six hours later priz ed puppy Zushi, who is only six months old, was gone - and the back door was wide open.
The blue bulldog pup had been kept in the utility room while she was being house trained.
Desperate Charlotte has now appealed to those responsible for the theft and begged Zushi is returned home.
She told the Record: "I came back home at about 11.30pm and someone's got in through the front door.
"I went through to the utility room because she's kept in there while she's training - we've got puppy pads on the floor in there for her.
"The door had been opened and the back door was lying wide open - Zushi was gone."
The 26-year-old who is four months pregnant and lives with her five-year-old daughter has also been left shaken at the thought of a stranger prowling around in her house - and was too scared to stay at home that night.
"I felt sick to my stomach at the thought of someone being in my house," she added.
"We just want her home. She's the only dog I've got."
Zushi was wearing a green and red Gucci collar, with a bone-shaped tag engraved with her name and Charlotte's phone number.
Police are probing the theft and are reviewing CCTV from neighbouring homes in a bid to identify the dognappers.
After reporting the dognapping to the police, Charlotte posted an appeal on social media for information.
In half a day it has been shared over 11,000 times and Charlotte has learned of a potential sighting of her precious pooch - restoring some of the barmaid's faith in humanity after having it so cruelly crushed.
"Up in the north of Scotland, when things like this happen the whole community comes together," Charlotte added.
"There's no other dogs like her up here and I think she'll be fine - but I just want her back."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We can confirm that this theft has been reported and enquiries are ongoing."
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