A DOG owner fears his dog may have been stolen after it went missing from his home in Rivenhall. 

Michael Macnamara's 18 month old cocker spaniel Bruno went missing from his home in Church Lane earlier this month, with reports that he had been spotted in a car between Maldon and Tiptree last week.

Bruno is one of several dogs to go missing from the area in the past week and Mr Macnamara has reported Bruno stolen to the police.

He said: "We are fairly certain Bruno would have not got lost but has been taken.

"If that is the case we want to make him well known so he can not just be kept by someone else or sold on.

"Bruno was born in our house and is a member of the family.

"You can not put a value on our family pet.

"We spend hundreds of pounds on vet bills because they are special.

"Yet the law doesn't really consider it a serious crime so the punishment is negligible but the impact on peoples lives not knowing what has happened to their pet is colossal.

"Whilst I do not compare it to having a child stolen, it does give an insight into the sickening feeling of loss that is felt."

A cash reward of £500 is being offered for his safe return.

The owners was contacted by a member of the public who claim they saw a very similar looking dog to Bruno in a Vauxhall Caddy van between Tiptree and Maldon on Monday Feburary 6.

Anyone with information is asked to call Braintree Local Policing Team on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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