£2,500 Cromer bulldog Benny stolen leaving family devastated

Benny was bought for Emmalene Chisholm, from Cromer, as a support pet to help with her recovery after breaking her back in a car crash five years ago.

On Sunday (July 2), Benny vanished from the family’s home in The Croft, Cromer, before a neighbor reported seeing him being led away from a nearby park by the alleged thief.

The family contacted the police who issued an urgent appeal for information on Wednesday (July 5).

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Missing bulldog Benny (Image: Supplied)

The pedigree bulldog cost the family £2,500, and Miss Chisholm said the breed was “worth a lot of money to the wrong people”.

“We’re absolutely devastated,” she said.

“We live right next to the meadow and within a matter of metres he had disappeared off the face of the earth.

“Benny was more than just a family pet – he was a support pet, bought for me as part of my rehabilitation when I broke my back.

“It was hard for my son seeing me in hospital and so unwell. Benny was something positive for the family to focus on.

“Benny is like a sidekick to me.”

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Benny (Image: Supplied)

Miss Chisholm created a ‘Stolen Benny’ public Facebook group to help find the missing bulldog, which already has 1,600 members.

A search party was launched in Cromer last night, but the whereabouts of the dog remain a mystery.

The family even received a phone call from a vet in Liverpool who had seen the appeal and thought the missing dog had been handed over to him.

“The support of the town, community and on social media has been overwhelming – we’re so grateful,” Miss Chisholm added.

If you think you have seen Benny, contact PC Benjamin Dorsett at North Walsham Police Station at Benjamin.Dorsett1@norfolk.police.uk or call 101.

Benny (Image: Supplied)