AN appeal to find a stolen dog has gone viral.

A cocker spaniel dog, which the owners asked not to be named, went missing on November 30 in the county, after thieves crowbarred the kennel open.

Stephanie Stead, the owner of the dog was left heartbroken after her youngest child, aged 13, thought her pet would be returned on Christmas Day by Father Christmas.

She shared her thoughts on Facebook, which in turn was shared by 30,000 people.

The mother of five has received calls from Canada and New Zealand in her attempt to recover the dog.

Mrs Stead added that the dog, which was stolen in Upper Arley, was one of several cocker spaniels stolen across the country, sometimes re-appearing hundreds of miles away from where they were taken.

Thieves broke into the kennel, but did not steal the five labradors also there.

Mrs Stead said: "Our youngest had got through each day, just believing that our girl would be home for Christmas.

"Christmas a jolly happy time was filled with tears and realisation that the world has some very evil people in it.

"Our youngest in her innocence showed me that her faith in man kind has been knock as she truly believed that because it was Christmas, our girl would be home."