Police are searching for a beautiful and very much loved Japanese Akita dog which went missing from outside Widnes indoor market (Cheshire, UK) on April, 30th.

The Akita owner, Alan Killen, 69, said he had tied his dog to a post outside the market at 12 noon while he went inside for two minutes. However, after returning to pick the dog up it was nowhere to be found.

This is every dog owner’s nightmare!

Mr Killen said: “I think he’s been stolen because they’re quite valuable. I can’t believe he’s gone. I lost my wife in November and Ben is really special to me. Everyone in the market loves him too.”

You don’t see an Akita every day and they are very beautiful and charismatic. My daily experience when I walk Kensho is to hear multiple people saying: “What a beautiful dog”. I can imagine some people wanting to steal these kind of dogs.

The missing Akita’s name is ‘Ben’. He’s micro chipped and is 8 years old. His coat is white chested and black brindle. He has a white tip on his tale and four white marks on his paws that look like socks.

Mr Killen asks for anyone with information to contact him on 0151 228 6339.