Family pet Troy, a staffordshire terrier, was stolen by the two thugs at around 8pm on Well Street in Paisley.

His owner had been bending down to pick up Troy’s waste when he was suddenly pushed to the ground from behind.

The man stamped on the owner’s wrist and grabbed Troy’s lead, before jumping in a blue van and fleeing with the dog.

It is feared the terrier may have been taken to be sold on or forced into a sickening dog fighting ring.

Heartbroken owner, Alison Birch, of Erskine, said: “Troy is just over a year and a family pet. He’s a gentle giant but really big.

“There were two men who took Troy by going up behind my partner and shoving him to the ground while he had been picking up Troy’s business.

“They stamped on my partner’s arm, grabbed Troy and dragged him into the back of a blue van with foreign registration plates where the driver was waiting to drive away.” “This is a very much loved family pet and he is only a young boy. Please help us get Troy home.” Following the terrifying snatch, thousands of people have turned to social media in a bid to catch the cruel culprits.

Disgusted animal lovers are also talking to rescue organisations via Facebook and twitter to post stories about dogs disappearing within their communities.

Police are warning pet owners to be on their guard after the shocking incident.

“We need your help to catch these people and bring Troy home,” Alison pleaded. “If you know anyone who has a shop camera or any camera in that area, with a view of the streets around where this happened, please ask them to look at footage for this van around the time he was stolen.

“The police are taking this extremely seriously and are analysing CCTV in the area.

“If you know anything at all, no matter how small, please contact Paisley Police station. Or contact us by private message.” Troy’s owners say the thieves fled in a Blue Ford Transit Van with a foreign registration plate starting with BZK or BZR.

The van is said to have been spotted in Erskine the night before Troy was stolen. Meanwhile, a similar incident happened in Motherwell last week when a van drove away with a terrier puppy.