POLICE acting on a tip-off have recovered two puppies from a litter of eight which went missing from a back garden.

Relieved owners Rupert and Jennie Tory said there was a “riot” when the springer spaniels were reunited with their mum, working dog Ruby, on Monday.

But six of her puppies are still missing.

The eight pups disappeared on September 11 from the couple’s home at Winterbourne Whitechurch, near Blandford.

An appeal in the Daily Echo for the safe return of the five-week-old pups, which were still being weaned, may have helped to secure the return of two of them, with police confirming they had acted on an anonymous tip-off.

“I spoke to the police constable on Monday when he started his shift, and he said they were following up something in Poole. I didn’t think much of it,” said Rupert.

“But he rang again at 5pm to say he had found two of the dogs and asked if I could identify them. I offered to go to Poole, but he said he was going anyway, and later brought the puppies here.

“There was riot! The puppies seemed to be very hungry. They just kept eating and eating. Ruby is over the moon.”

The two puppies are a dog and a bitch and both are black and white.

The six puppies still missing are of both sexes. Some have liver and white coats while others are black and white.

“We’re so grateful. We know the police are very serious about it and want to recover all the puppies,” said Rupert.

The dogs were bred as pets. One was intended for Rupert’s father, Norman, and another as a companion for the couple’s five-month-old son, William.

Police officers found the two puppies at an address in Poole on Monday.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said : “Three men and two women from the Parkstone area of Poole have been arrested in connection with the incident and are helping police with their enquiries.

“Six puppies remain missing. Anyone with information relating to the whereabouts of the remaining puppies should contact PC Mark Holdgate on 01202 222222 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.”