A DEVASTATED Poole family told of their heartbreak after they returned home from a dream holiday to discover their beloved dogs were gone.

Stunned Jane Harris, 53, of Methuen Road, in Canford Heath, told how the family left their inseparable crossbreeds Trixie and Vicky with her son in Scarf Road, Canford Heath.

But the pining dogs broke out and when the family returned from Australia three weeks later they discovered that Vicky, 10, was dead and five-year-old Trixie was missing.

Now they are appealing for anyone who has seen Trixie to contact them immediately.

"Our hearts are breaking," Mrs Harris said. "We know Vicky is dead, but we do not know about Trixie and I hate to think of her being lost, cold, afraid, tired or injured.

"Everyone who is involved in the search for Trixie has been amazing and we continue to hope she will be found.

"We need to know where she has been so we can piece together her movements and also where she is now."

Just hours after the family left on February 22, Trixie escaped from the back garden of the house in Scarf Road.

Three days later Vicky broke out as well, but as someone tried to corner her at a nearby shopping precinct she became scared and ran into the path of a car.

With the support of volunteers from doglost.co.uk, an online charity that helps reunite lost and stolen dogs with their owners, the Harris family have been working tirelessly to find their pet.

Trixie is described as a small, shaggy, scruffy miniature lurcher.

If anyone has any information they should telephone the Harris family on 01202 257427.