The Livesey family has issued an urgent plea – alongside a five-figure reward – as they desperately hope for the return of beloved Cocker Spaniel Mabel after she went missing in Lancashire
A desperate family fearing for the safety of their beloved dog is offering a five-figure reward for her return after the pup suddenly disappeared from their farm.
A massive search operation using drones was launched in Lancashire following the disappearance of 18-month-old Cocker Spaniel Mabel, who vanished from a farm in Inskip on April 10. Her owners, Sarah and Paul Livesy, fear she may have been stolen by a visitor to their farm shop for breeding purposes.
They have offered a massive £10,000 reward for the dog’s return after initial efforts to track her down failed, and have issued an urgent public plea to help fined the “centre of our family”.
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Speaking to ITV News, Sarah said Mabel was “the most loving loyal dog”, and said she is sorely missed by the family. She told the broadcaster: “She is the most loving loyal dog, she is literally the centre of our family. The children are devastated, we are all devastated. We just miss her so much and I know how much she will miss us.”
Mabel has been a part of the Livesey family since she was a puppy, and has been described as having red fur with a white chest and wrinkly forehead.
Multiple possible sightings of the dog have been reported and followed up, but so far none of them have turned out to be beloved Mabel. Sarah said she hopes the reward – which was raised with help from the wider family – will encourage someone to come forward and possibly hand over the dog.
Sarah has been racked by anxiety since the dog went missing, and said she is “just existing” without her, telling ITV: “I can’t sleep, I’m just existing, I just need her home.”
Dog thefts have been increasing in recent years, with up to 2,000 stolen in the UK each year and the North West being one of the most high-risk areas. More than 23,000 pets are believed to have been stolen over the last decade, leading to the introduction of the Pet Abduction Act in May 2024, which increased penalties for stealing to up to five years behind bars.
Owners have been urged by police to never let their dogs out of sight, and to ensure they are microchipped and entered on recognised on a pet registration database.
People who have experienced thefts of this kind have told how the crime separates them from a treasured member of their family, leaving them distraught. Lisa Eardley, centre manager at the Dogs Trust Manchester, told ITV that thieves steal the pets as an “easy way to make money”.
She said: “I don’t think they consider the impact it has on families when they steal these dogs. It’s an easy way to make money and it’s quite quick and you can move dogs quite quickly and sadly this is the reality we are in at the moment, especially with what we call ‘cute breeds’.
“They tend to be the ones that they go for more but I think generally it’s because they can be moved quite quickly and they can make a lot of money.”
People who believe they may have seen Mabel have been asked to contact 07971 866679 or 07825 986832 to report a sighting.
