A man has been arrested after police rescued between 30 and 40 stolen puppies from a van on the M6 in Gloucestershire.
Police on Saturday received reports that a man was seen loading a number of puppies into a vehicle near Cheltenham.
They were responding to reports that a man was seen loading a number of puppies into a vehicle.
Gloucestershire Constabulary said that officers conducted enquiries into the van after being called to Beeches Road in Charlton Kings.
They then liaised with colleagues at West Mercia Police, who located and stopped the van on the M6 before detaining the man.
The suspect, 24, from Durham was arrested on suspicion of the theft of puppies.
He has been transported to custody in Gloucestershire where he remains at this time.
The puppies were recovered from the van and have been taken to an RSPCA vet surgery for assessment.
Officers are asking anyone who has information to call 101 quoting incident 237 of 22 August.
