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A four-year-old boy who has just learned to write has penned his first ever letter - to the "bad men" who stole his beloved puppy.

Little Ethan Ferrier was just a toddler his pet dog Fern - similar to Prince William and Kate's dog Lupo - was taken from the family farm in April, 2013.

But, since learning to write at school, he decided to pen a heartbreaking letter to appeal to the crooks who stole the black cocker/spring spaniel two years ago.

(Image: Stian Alexander)

His note begs the thieves to return Fern, who was just a one-year-old pup when she was stolen.

Written in green ink, the boy wrote: "To the bad men who took Fern. Can Fern come home now please. I miss her."

He signs off 'Ethan' and includes a drawing of him and Fern with mum Jodie and dad Tom.

Ethan's letter, written on Monday, has been posted on Facebook and Twitter and various pet websites in a desperate bid to track down his pet - and even Sir Bruce Forsyth has backed the campaign.

(Image: Stian Alexander)

Ethan's mum Jodie, who said he still asks about Fern every day, thinks she was stolen for breeding.

The popularity of black spaniels went through the roof when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were first pictured walking Lupo in Hyde Park in February 2013.

And just two months later, on April 28, Fern was taken from the family's farm in Malden Rushett, Surrey.



Jodie, 32, said: "Ethan was very, very upset when Fern was taken from our farm - he would ask over and over again why anyone would want to take her from us.

"He has never forgotten about Fern and always asks us where we think she is and if she is happy.

"He asks me every morning if Fern is coming back home and I have to tell him I don't know - it's heartbreaking.

"When Ethan started to learn to write he decided he wanted to write a letter to the people who took Fern and this is what he came up with.

"We still hope with all our hearts that Fern will be found one day - if only the people who took her knew the devastation they had caused maybe they would bring her back."

(Image: Stian Alexander)

She added: "Fern looks almost identical to Lupo and we've spoken the endless dog charities and police who tell us the same story - that demand for cocker spaniels is outstripping supply because of the popularity of Lupo."

Husband Tom, 35, an engineer, said: "Breeders are getting up to £1,000 for cocker spaniel puppies at the moment because of the William and Kate's dog.

"We want to make people aware of this problem, because it is getting worse."

The family have campaigned tirelessly for the return of Fern since she was pinched and still hope she will be traced through her microchip.

(Image: Stian Alexander)

She even managed to get the backing of Sir Bruce Forsyth, who posed up for a #findfern selfie last week.

Full-time mum Mrs Ferrier is pals with Sir Bruce's daughter Debbie Matthews, who runs the Vets Get Scanning appeal - which helps reunited stolen and lost dogs with their owners.

In January this year, Prime Minister David Cameron said dog thefts were 'appalling'.

He told the House of Commons: "We are a nation of dog lovers.

"People are very attached to their pets and it's appalling when they get stolen.

"Obviously, the changes we have made in terms of compulsory chipping should help with this issue, but my heart goes out to anyone who has had a much-loved pet taken away from them."

The Ferrier family still have the two dogs Fern was with when she was snatched, collie Trio and springer spaniel Cilla.

Megan, a mongrel, died at the grand old age of 17 last Friday, with Ethan asking 'If Megan is now an angel, can she look for Fern?'.