The precious pet of one of Liverpool FC's rising stars has disappeared from her home, sparking a frantic search.
Layton Stewart's five-year-old female Pomeranian, called Gigi, is believed to have escaped from the garden of the young forward's Neston home between 7pm and 8pm on Sunday, April 23. She was last spotted on Mill Lane, Willaston, by witnesses who said they saw her being picked up by a middle-aged, blonde-haired woman, who told them she would try to locate the dog's rightful owners.
But more than a week later, Layton and his girlfriend Shayne Garforth say they have yet to hear anything from Gigi's mystery saviour - and they now fear their dog has been stolen.
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Shayne, 21, said: "She must have been gone about half an hour before anyone realised she'd escaped. A couple of witnesses said they'd seen a middle-aged woman who took her. She seemed really nice, and said she was going to knock on doors and see if she could find the owner of the dog.
"We don't know if she did - but everyone on our street says they didn't have a knock on the door that night.
"She said she was going to hand the dog into a vet to see if it was chipped. Now it's been over a week and we've been in touch with every vet, the company that chipped her, and nothing. We haven't heard a thing.
"It seems like this lady either thinks she's keeping her, or has sold her."
Gigi, a red Pomeranian, is described as having distinctive mismatched ears, with the left one being pointed and the right one being small and round. She is small for her age due to suffering from an infection as a puppy, and needs medication for digestive problems twice a week.
Shayne said: "I have had the worst week. I've been absolutely devastated, because there's not a lot we can do. We've been all over the Wirral, put posters up everywhere, knocked on doors. It's the most heartbreaking thing. She's part of the family.
"I'm scared that she will get sold and we'll never see her again, or that she's with a bad person. We don't know what could possibly happen to her.
"I've had her since she was a puppy. We got her when she was eight weeks old. She's like my baby."
Gigi's disappearance has been reported to Cheshire Police and enquiries are ongoing.
Anyone who believes they have seen Gigi, or knows where she is, is asked to contact the Beautys Legacy Reuniting Lost and Stolen Animals and Promoting Animal Welfare charity on 07866026343.
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