A DEVASTATED Hampshire family have pleaded for help to find their puppy which believe may have been stolen.

Cocker spaniel Rosie vanished from the family home nine days ago and has not been seen since.

Now owner Polly savage and her family have launched a campaign to try and find their beloved eight-month-old brown puppy.

It comes after a spate of dognapping in the Test Valley area, with reported incidents in Romsey, West Wellow, North Baddesley and Monxton during the last 18 months.

Working Cocker Spaniel and her mum Minnow, three, left the house at about midday on last Sunday, but Minnow returned four hour later without Rosie.

Since then Polly, a 51-year-old retired accountant and her four teenage children, have been searching for the puppy and leafleting the area. They have also called the police, dog warden and local vets but so far she has not been found.

Now the family are desperate to have her back and they are urging people to help find her.

Polly, of Plaitford Green, Plaitford, near Romsey, said: “If anyone finds her please take her to someone who can identify her. She is micro-chipped and we would love to have her back desperately.

“Everyone is really miserable about it. We have had her since birth. The children are devastated.

“We get a lot of reports of stolen dogs in this area and her breed is very popular but she could have just gone missing. I'm not going to rule anything out.

“They had gone out and ran off together but the mum came back without her.

“By the time Minnow came back it was 4pm so it was already quite dark by then but we spent the next two days searching for her and leafleting the area.

“We have searched extensively and the local farmers and neighbours are all aware and looking for her but we are devastated.”

If anyone has any information they can call Polly on 01794 323 989 or 07879 482877.