Dognapped – Reward after top baby guru Annabel Karmel’s pet snatched from walker

Published: 24 June 2010
by JOSIE HINTON

A LEADING baby diet guru has been left distraught after her dog was among a group of pets stolen in Hampstead.

Annabel Karmel,  known by parents across the country for her toddler food recipes, lost her white Samoyed when 11 dogs inside a walker’s van in Christchurch Hill were driven off by thieves at around 1pm on Monday.

The dog walker had parked up while he collected another pet from a house just 12 feet away.

Nine of the dogs were found tied to a lamppost in Red Lion Hill, East Finchley, later that day, but the Samoyed and a Pug – both valuable – are still missing. 

Ms Karmel, the distressed owners of the Pug and the dog walkers are now offering a combined reward of £8,000 for the dogs’ safe return.

Ms Karmel, who was away in France when she found out her beloved dog had been stolen, said: “As soon as I heard I flew back. I’ve had him a year and a half and we’re inseparable. I also have another dog and he’s just walking around the place pining – he’s seriously depressed.

“My only hope is that he’s very distinctive – he’s white and fluffy  and very beautiful. Whenever you take him out people stop you and comment on him, so I’m hoping someone would recognise him.”    

Rolf Allan, of Frognal in Hampstead, was also on holiday in France when his son broke the news that his Pug had been taken.

He said: “We’re devastated. We’ve had him since he was eight weeks old and he’s been a complete joy to us.”

His son Timothy added: “It’s hard to understand unless you’re a dog person, but for my parents, who are in their seventies, it’s like losing their third child – the one who has never left home.”

Dima Yeremenko, who runs the Good Boy Dog School and was collecting the dogs at the time, said that it was the first dognapping in north London. He has offered to match the reward being offered by the owners.

“I have hardly slept for three days,” he said. “I’ve just been out circling the area looking for any sign of them. I’ve been running this business for years and the clients are like family.”

Detective Inspector Gary Randall said: “We are investigating this incident and doing everything we can to locate the missing dogs. We advise the public never to leave their car keys in an unattended vehicle, it only takes a second for an opportunist thief to act.”