Lupo lookalike "stolen"
A TODDLER been left broken-hearted after thieves stole his pet cocker spaniel - because it looks just like Prince William and Kate's beloved dog Lupo.
Jodie Ferrier and husband Tom bought black cocker spaniel Fern for toddler son Ethan, three, last year, and he fell in love with the black pooch.
But after the Duchess of Cambridge took family dog Lupo out for a walk in Hyde Park in February, demand for black cocker spaniels has rocketed by more than 50 per cent, according to dog charities.
Mrs Ferrier, 31, said Fern and her three other dogs, collie Trio, mongrel Megan and springer spaniel Cilla, were playing at the family farm in Malden Rushett, Surrey, when she was pinched.
The full-time mum, speaking for the first time about the theft today said she suspected a breeder had spotted Fern - who is microchipped - and stole her to produce puppies.
Cocker spaniel pups are now selling for between £600-£1,000 since the Royal dog hit the headlines.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge got Lupo just before Christmas in 2011 from a litter born to the Middleton family dog Ella.
She said Ethan was devastated after the theft on April 28 this year and that he was pining for her return, adding: "Fern is Ethan's puppy and he has been completely devastated since she was stolen.
"He asks me every morning if Fern is coming back home today and I have to tell him I don't know - it's heartbreaking."
Mrs Ferrier added: "Fern looks almost identical to Lupo and we've spoken the endless dog charities and police who tell us the same story - that demand for cocker spaniels is outstripping supply because of the popularity of Lupo."
Husband Tom, 33, an agricultural engineer, said: "Breeders are getting up to £1,000 for cocker spaniel puppies at the moment because of the William and Kate's dog.
"We want to make people aware of this problem, because it is getting worse."
The couple and their son attended a meeting on Sunday with local police and other locals who have had their dogs stolen to order.
Mrs Ferrier said: "The meeting was very positive and the police are on our side - we just want Fern back at home, and hopefully someone will come forward and she'll be back with us soon."
John Hockley, a rural communities officer for Surrey Police told the meeting that dog theft was an 'extremely emotive crime that impacts whole families', adding: "The longer a dog is missing without sightings the harder it can be to cope."
Surrey Police confirmed it was investigating the theft.
