Stolen ferret found in Upwood, but brother still missing

One of the stolen ferrets (Image: Archant)

A ferret snatched from its cage in Upwood on March 20 has been found, but his brother is still missing.

Stokey and Scrumpy, both three, were put to bed by owners Lorraine and Ian Rowbotham on Sunday night, but the couple only realised they had gone late the following day.

“It’s so sad,” Mrs Rowbotham told The Hunts Post.

“I can’t believe it. They’re not used to being outside much so I worry about their welfare and them not getting a lot of water. I do not want them shoved into a dirty, smelly cage and not looked after.”

Scrumpy has since been found after going through a cat-flap at a nearby house and was returned to his owners today (March 24).

“He went through the cat-flap of somebody’s house. They tried to get rid of him but he came back in so they took him, then they saw the adverts,” said Mrs Rowbotham.

“Apparently he has a bite on his face so he might have had a run-in with a fox.”

Stokey is still missing, though.

“It’s the gentler one that’s lost now; the other one can walk for miles,” she added.

The pets had only moved outside to sleep recently, now that the weather is improving, and are thought to have been stolen between 8pm on Sunday and 8am on Monday.

The couple called the police around 7pm on March 21 once they realised they’d been taken and are offering a generous reward for Stokey’s return.

Stokey is micro-chipped and anyone with information should call Mrs Rowbotham on 07976 642 943, contact the police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.