A MOTHER-OF-FOUR was pistol-whipped by a gun-wielding dog-napper who snatched two of her puppies.

When Wendy Larger's black Staffordshire bull terrier Dilys gave birth to six pups, she decided to sell them to good homes for £250 each.

Three weeks after their birth, the 33-year-old placed an advert in Exchange & Mart on September 25 and was approached by a male caller wanting two of Dilys' litter.

The man, described as in his 30s, bearded, black and well-spoken, turned up at her Greenwich home as agreed on November 14, accompanied by another black man in his early 20s.

The pair talked to the mum for 30 minutes but things turned nasty when they refused to part with their cash.

Mrs Larger said: "He wanted his uncle to come back and see them later so I asked for a deposit as a retainer, which they went off to get.

"They came back and the older man picked up the pups but one started to whimper so I went to take it back.

"He pulled out a gun, pointed it in my face and said he was not going to pay for them, just take them."

She added: "I ran after them screaming like a wild banshee.

"The younger one got in their car and then the man with the gun whacked me around the head with it.

"I fell backwards and the blood started pouring out. I was so shocked.

"My neighbour was walking by and found me, then called the police."

The pair fled in what Mrs Larger believes to have been a dark blue Vauxhall Corsa.

Mrs Larger needed 12 stitches to her head following the attack.

She says she laid on her sofa in tears for three days after the attack, said: "They knew children were running around the house.

"I can't even think of what sort of person would do something like this; they are despicable."

Investigating officer Detective Constable Dave Groom, from Greenwich police, said: "I'm appealing to anyone who witnessed this assault and would ask those with information to contact me.

"This was a very heavy-handed attack against a defenceless victim, but it is also the way they went about it."

He added: "They went to the house knowing what they were going to do.

"They used senseless violence to get away and we are investigating the incident as grievous bodily harm."

The gunman, described as chunky, was approximately 5ft 9in and was wearing a black woolly hat, a dark blue rain jacket and jeans.

The younger man, approximately 5ft 6in, was of slim build and wearing jeans, a black jacket and black woolly gloves.

An RSPCA spokesman said: "It could be these dogs have been taken to be used for fighting but they are also seen as a status symbol by some who think they look cool.

"We get calls saying dogs of high monetary value are being stolen and cases such as this are certainly on the increase.

"It is a really good idea to get your dogs micro-chipped, so if it does get stolen, you would be able to prove it belongs to you if it is found."

Anyone with information about the incident, which took place between 2.10pm and 2.50pm, or the dogs' whereabouts, should call Det Con Groom on 020 8284 7700.