Therapy dog stolen from autistic girl, 12, found dead three months after being taken from home

Therapy dog that was stolen from a 12-year-old autistic girl has been found dead three months after she was taken from her family home

• Thieves stole Chloe Hopkins’ dalmatian Lottie from her home in Leicestershire
• The girl was left crying herself to sleep at night as community rallied to help
• TV presenter Chris Packham was among those to share appeals on social media 
• Mother Gemma describes heartbreak as ‘the hardest thing I’ve done by miles’ 

By Tom Pyman For Mailonline

Published: 10:34 GMT, 10 March 2020 | Updated: 16:51 GMT, 10 March 2020

Chloe Hopkins, pictured with dalmatian Lottie, cried herself to sleep after her beloved pet was taken from her in December

A therapy dog cruelly stolen from an autistic girl has been found dead.

Chloe Hopkins’s three-year-old dalmatian Lottie was snatched from the family’s outhouse in Peatling Parva, south Leicestershire, in December.

Mother Gemma Hopkins saw a drone fly over the property just days before Lottie was taken, which she suspects was used by the thieves to stake out their garden. 

The theft left the 12-year-old crying herself to sleep every night, sparking a widespread appeal to find her beloved pet, which was even backed by TV presenter Chris Packham.

However, Mrs Hopkins has now revealed the hunt for the hound has come to a tragic conclusion, after her body was discovered in a layby in Peatling Road, Countesthorpe on Sunday morning.

Posting on social media, she wrote: ‘This is something I’d never thought I’d have to post, in fact I’m not sure it has sunk in.

‘We got the call we didn’t want, Lottie has been found but passed away.

‘Having to identify her was the hardest thing I’ve done by miles and I cannot thank everyone enough for the shares of posters via social media.’

She went on to describe telling Chloe the tragic news as ‘breaking my 12-year-old’s heart’ and wrote a goodbye message to ‘my crazy bunch of spots’.

TV presenter Chris Packham, pictured, was among those to share the appeal to find Lottie on social media

The community has again rallied behind the family and a GoFundMe page has been set up to help them.

The fundraiser, organised by Catherine Lightbown, reads: ‘A beautiful 12-year-old girl who has ASD and autism was given the gift of a support dog, a beautiful liver spot dalmatian named Lottie. 

‘But soon after, one day, whilst Lottie was at home, evil came to visit, taking Lottie with them and it did unbelievable damage to a beautiful 12-year-old girl. 

Chloe’s mother Gemma revealed the heartbreaking news on social media that Lottie, pictured with the autistic 12-year-old, had been found dead after a three-month search

‘Her mum, family, friends and strangers did everything in their power to find Lottie and today they got the news that they had been dreading – Lottie had been found, but sadly had passed away. 

‘Now, nothing can ever replace the love and support that Lottie brought to her, but it could go some way to mend her broken heart.’   

PC Robin Bonell, Leicestershire Police’s investigating officer, said: ‘Sadly, we have been told that Lottie has been found dead. We have spoken to her owner to offer support and they have asked to be left alone at this time.

‘We are continuing with our investigation into the burglary. I would still like to speak to anyone who may have information but has not yet contacted police.

‘I’m particularly keen to speak to anyone who was driving along Peatling Road on Sunday morning. 

‘Did you notice anyone in a layby who was acting in a manner that seemed unusual or that caught your attention? Do you have a dashcam installed in your vehicle?

‘Any details you’re able to provide, no matter how insignificant you think they may be, could help with our investigation.’

Anyone with any information should call 101 quoting incident 19*643906.

:

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk