Authorities in Johnson County, Texas, say three championship English Bulldogs were taken from a local breeder early Saturday morning.

According to ABC Dallas affiliate WFAA, the three puppies, who come from a long line of show dogs, were believed taken from the Dallas suburb home of prize-winning breeders Lucky and Donna Watson. The two run the DoWats Bulldog Ranch have bred more than a dozen champion English Bulldogs.

"We love them. They're babies to us," the duo's daughter Pope told the ABC affiliate.

The Watsons were out of town showing one of their dogs this weekend and a nephew house sat the dogs in their absence, the station says. The daughter told WFAA her cousin noticed this missing dogs Saturday morning. "[He] got up to go take care of the dogs, feed the dogs, let the dogs out, give them their medication… and they were gone."

Attempts to reach the Watsons were not successful.

English Bulldogs have long held a high value. Police the price for the dogs could be in the thousands, but whoever took them left the dogs' lineage papers behind, the station reports.

The Sheriff's office was not available for comment.

But, for a distraught Pope, returning the pups is priceless. "We want the dogs back safe and that's all. No questions asked," she said. "Just bring them back."