A DISTRAUGHT family is continuing to search for their puppy Mila who went missing four days ago after their Kinross home was burgled.
Kirsty Marshall and her two children have spent hours each day searching for their 16-month-old border collie cross kelpie who was scared off by the robbers.
Ms Marshall said she spotted Mila who was “terrified” for the first time today near Tauranga Retreat in Mindarie where she ran off towards Long Beach Promenade.
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READ NOW“I called and called for her but she never came to me, she’s absolutely petrified,” she said.
“I don’t know what they (the robbers) have done to her but she’s terrified and I’m really concerned for her.
“There have been a couple of sightings of her around Mindarie but no one can go near her.
“Usually she comes to people and she tends to run to other dogs.”
The pet owner left her home about 11.20am on Monday, with Mila inside before returning about 2.10pm to find her home ransacked and her pet missing.
Ms Marshall said the intruders broke into the property through a side gate before forcing their way into the house through a kitchen window.
“I think they have hit her with the handle of a sweeping brush to try and fend her off because it was propped up near my garage when I left but when I returned it was dumped in the kitchen,” she said.
“She’s a happy and friendly dog who likes to be around people but she tends to bark at strangers.
“I think she’s done a good job at scaring them off because my laptop and the kids’ tablets were still there but three of my Pandora rings I got for my 30th birthday were taken.”
In desperation to get Mila home safely, the mother-of-two created a Facebook page called Help Find Mila where community members have united and joined in the search.
Ms Marshall said the community spirit to find her beloved pet had “restored her faith in humanity” after people had gone out of their way to help find Mila.
“There have been people out in their four-wheel-drives looking for her and people on foot with their own dogs,” she said.
“The community has restored my spirit in humanity, so many people have taken the time to come out and search for her with three guys even with their drones come out and help.”
Ms Marshall said her children were “absolutely devastated” because Mila, who they got before Christmas 2016 to deal with the trauma of losing their other dog, was part of the family.
“She slept on my bed every night and is part of our family,” she said.
“I’m going to go back to where I saw her and take some of my clothes with my scent on, her bed and a hot chicken to try and get her to come to me.”
To help find Mila, go to facebook.com/groups/306876359835760/