Van driver joins the hunt to find a dog he once rescued (From Witney Gazette)

Van driver joins the hunt to find a dog he once rescued

4:00pm Tuesday 19th February 2008 in Witney By David Horne

A MAN who once rescued a dog from a pound is helping in the hunt to find her.

Tom Skelton, employee with removal firm House and Carriage, is driving a van with 'Searching for Sia' posters attached to it.

The nine-year-old black Labrador was taken in by Laura Ludlow, of Hixet Wood, Charlbury, who is distraught that the pet has gone missing.

Sia came to Charlbury when Mr Skelton was completing a house move in London last year, when he noticed a dog had been left behind.

He asked the owners if they wanted him to move the dog too, but they callously told him to dump the dog at the first pound he passed.

Mr Skelton refused, contacted Ms Ludlow, who agreed to take her in, and the dog rode from the capital to West Oxfordshire in the front of the cab with him.

Sia took to her new home, but on January 15 ran off after a small deer, while Mrs Ludlow was out walking in Cornbury Park.

She has not seen her since, and, despite her own publicity, has received no positive sightings from the public.

She said: "The search for Sia has continued all day, every day, since she went missing."

A cash reward is on offer for the return of Sia, who is microchipped and was wearing a blue tag with her owner's mobile phone number, 07778 933133, attached to a brown leather collar. Details have been posted on to the website www.doglost.co.uk Anyone with information can contact Mrs Ludlow on that number.