THE distraught owner or an uncommon breed of dog, which has been missing from its home in Bromsgrove since early August, is appealing to Advertiser/Messenger readers to keep a sharp eye open in the hope that she can be reunited with her beloved pet.

Its owner is Vikki Garrigan, 34, from Littleheath Lane, Lickey End, who with friends, has spent her holidays and every available minute since her dog's strange disappearance searching for him and putting up posters. She even hired an animal medium in a bid to trace his wherabouts.

Dog lovers from all over Britain are now travelling to Bromsgrove after reading of her plight on the Internet, providing a welcome boost to the search.

She said Tann is a loveable two-year-old Trailhound who was spotted three weeks ago at Fockbury and more recently at Pepper Wood in Fairfield.

An animal psychic Vikki consulted suggested he was in the woods and to her amazement a few days later a couple saw him in a clearing looking scared, wet and bedraggled. However, he ran off when their dogs approached him.

The hounds are used in the popular sport of fell racing in "high country" areas of Britain such as Cumbria, and are capable of following a pre-determined scent of paraffin and aniseed over a distance of ten miles in less than 30 minutes.

But Tann's playful antics upset other runners making him useless for racing and Vikki, an enforcement officer for animal health, acquired him for a pet through the Blue Cross at Catshill ten months ago.

She said she was exercising Tann and Jimmy, another Trailhound, in a field off Spirehouse Lane, Lickey End, on August 4 when they failed to return.

Jimmy, whom she had only owned for a few days, returned in a distressed condition five hours later to a neighbour's house. But Tann, who has tattoos in his ears and is microchiped, was not seen again for two months.

She said dog-napping is rife in Bromsgrove. One theory police suggested is they may have been caught to sell on to fund drugs or drink habits, and escaped or been released, or due to their similarity to foxhounds may have fallen foul of anti-blood sport campaigners.

"I miss him terribly" said a sad Vikki. "And so does Jimmy, who is off his food and mopes about in Tann's basket."

"He is unlikely to come when called, so if anyone spots him or has any information I would ask them to ring me as soon as possible."

Vikki can be contacted on 01527 575636 or on her mobile 07731 841 229.