A DOG and her owner were attacked by armed men during a "callous robbery" in Harpurhey.

Two men, armed with machetes, followed a man into his flat in Fernclough Road.

They attacked the victim and left him lying on the floor with wounds to his forearms and hands where he tried to defend himself.

The armed men, believed to be in their 20s, then began to raid the property, looking for valuables they could steal, according to police.

On discovering a litter of five-week-old Staffordshire cross puppies and their mother, Zena, the offenders "started picking the puppies up and shoving them into carrier bags."

Police said they "showed no regard for the safety of the puppies."

When Zena tried to defend her litter of seven pups, she was hit over the head with a machete, which caused a deep laceration.

The offenders also stole cash, keys and a phone which they had taken from the victim, before fleeing the scene.

Detectives in North Manchester have since issued an urgent appeal for information to try and trace the pups — three boys and four girls, which had not yet been given names.

Det Const Nick Kershaw, of Greater Manchester Police’s City of Manchester division, said: “We are urgently appealing for information which will help us locate the puppies which were stolen this morning.

“The dogs are only five weeks old and without their mother, they likely won’t survive very long so it is important that anyone with information that can assist, please contact police as a matter of urgency.

“This was an incredibly callous robbery, where the offenders showed absolutely no regard for the safety of anyone, human or animal, who was present at the time. They only had one thing on their mind, which was to take whatever they could.

“Please help us return these puppies and reunite them with their very sad mother, Zena, who has been left devastated.”

The offenders are both described as black, of skinny build, and were wearing dark clothing with their hoods up.

One of the men is believed to be about 6ft 3in to 6ft 4in tall and was wearing a grey and black camouflage face covering.

His accomplice was slightly shorter and wearing a plain black face covering.

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 3985, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.