A family have been left devastated after heartless thieves stole their dog's ashes while they slept upstairs.
The Shields' family owned the little Maltese, Fifi, since she was a puppy until she died suddenly, aged nine, in March.
When she passed away the family got a small decorative box, with gold paw prints emblazoned on the front, to put her ashes in and keep in their Vauxhall home .
Fifi, was like a child to Pat Shields and her husband Christopher, so much so that Christopher had wanted to be buried with her ashes when he died.
Pat told the ECHO : "She was such a lovely dog, we're devastated we lost her and devastated they had the cheek to take her ashes. Out of everything [in the house] we wouldn't expect anyone to come into the house and take the ashes of a dog."
She added: "My husband wanted the ashes to be buried with him, he was devastated. He just wanted those ashes to come with him. Some people go 'it's a dog' but it's not the same, it's like losing a child. It's awful."
On April 16, Christopher went to work at 5am, leaving Pat sleeping upstairs with her other Maltese, Harry, when burglars crept into the house.
Although she heard movement downstairs, Pat assumed her husband was just nipping back into the house because he had forgotten something.
It was only when she got up later that morning she realised there had been thieves lurking below.
"I never heard anything but Harry must have, he was going hysterical," she said.
"I told him it must be his Dad but they [the burglars] must have heard me. They didn't stay long, went in a few cupboards and took a few little things."
Along with the small box containing Fifi's ashes the burglars took a small leather bag, containing a bank card and some cash.
Pat and her family believe the burglars may have mistaken the box, decorated with a paw print, for a small jewellery box and are desperate to be reunited with their dog.
"They could have taken anything they wanted, but mainly, it's just the ashes we want back. I've tried everything, put it on Facebook as well."
She added: "They won't keep the ashes, I think they must have thought it was a little jewellery box. You can't open it because it's screwed shut, they probably thought there was something inside."
"It had a card next to it to say what it was but they haven't had time to read the card, they've just picked it up."
Pat said the theft represented the "lowest of the low" and is now pleading with anyone who knows what happened to Fifi's ashes to let her know.
She said: "The worst thing is, as the days go on, I'm getting more upset, I think it's just they are gone and I'm angry.
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