A BASSET hound from Twickenham is one of the latest additions to a website dedicated to recovering lost and stolen dogs.

A family in Ferry Road have been distraught since Jessica the dog flew out the front door and disappeared on March 17. A massive search ensued and she was spotted in New Orleans Park and later in Whitton, but is still missing.

Owner Dominique Loral said: "Our three children are very upset, there were tears all night when we told them. But you've got to carry on hoping; I've said to the children that no news is hopefully good news. Someone may have taken her in."

Unfortunately, Jessica did not wear her collar indoors as it bothered her and she had never been the type to run away. Her owners now regret this and realise the importance of a collar at all times. Anyone with information on Jessica's whereabouts can call Dominique on 0772 0814173.

The creators of the website Dog Lost say the number of missing and stolen dogs is rising at an alarming rate. Dog Lost has already reunited 168 dogs with owners this year.

Jayne Hayes of Dog Lost is concerned that very few dogs can officially be declared stolen by the police, as circumstances must point beyond reasonable doubt towards actual theft. She said: "Because of this loophole, many people feel that they can get away with abducting dogs. Without a crime report from the police, these thieves think that they're getting away scott free and that the police won't bother to investigate. Priority is given to a lost mobile phone over a lost dog."

A spokesman at Twic-kenham police station confirmed that four cases of dog theft' have occurred in Richmond upon Thames in the last year and it is not considered a major problem. However, the number of dogs which go missing is harder to track. Owners can report disappearances at Twickenham police station and it is treated like a case of lost property.

Contact Dog Lost on 01909 733366 or visit www.doglost.co.uk