Australian man pelted with puppies during dog theft

SYDNEY, Feb 26 (Reuters) An Australian man was in a serious condition in hospital after he was stabbed and pelted with puppies when he tried to stop thieves stealing rare dogs, police said today.

The man found an intruder stealing dogs when he returned with a friend to her home in suburban Melbourne late last night.

''As they've approached her property they've seen a man running out of the premises with five jack russell cross dachshund puppies,'' police spokesman Adam West said.

The thief was attempting to drive off with the dogs when the unidentified man ran up to the car and began kicking it.

The intruder responded by throwing two of the puppies at him.

''As he's kicking the car another man's got out of the car and stabbed him several times, causing serious injuries,'' Australian Associated Press quoted West as saying.

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said organised gangs were stealing exotic breeds of puppies and were not afraid to use violence.

REUTERS SBA RN0805