Unable to live without beloved bull terrier

- 20 September 2007

HAPPIER TIMES: Free Manohar with Jada

A DISTRAUGHT dog owner fears her beloved pet has been stolen for dog fighting.

Free Manohar, of Leamington Gardens, Seven Kings, has pleaded for anyone with information on the whereabouts of her two-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier Jada to come forward as she cannot live without him.

The dog, who she has had since he was a pup, went missing from a friend's house in Longbridge Road, Barking.

Free, 21, said: "Jada is not just a pet to me. He's one of the family, my baby and I just want him back safe and sound. He's been there for me through everything.

"We're not sure what happened, whether he wandered out and was taken or if someone came in and took him, but I was at work when I got the call and I was devastated. I can't live and I haven't been able to go back to work all week. I'm so worried about him."

Free contacted a lost dog website which helps reunite owners with their pets, and was told a lot of Staffordshire bull terrier have been stolen by groups of boys to be used in dog fights.

Ever since Jada went missing, at around noon on Monday, September 10, Free has spent all day trawling the streets searching for him with a friend and has put up thousands of missing posters.

She was even more upset at a reported sighting of the brown and white dog being made to cross the road by a group of boys.

She added: "I'm not sure if it was him but it was really upsetting. This is the third time a dog of this breed has been taken in the area.

"I really, really want him back so if anyone's seen him please come forward."

Anyone with information, should call her on 07985 439502 and she has put up a cash reward for the dog's safe return.