Mum's anguish as beloved pet dog goes missing
A distraught mum has launched an internet campaign to track down the missing dog that belonged to her late son.
Staffordshire bull terrier Rocky was a lasting reminder of Lily Anderson's son Alexis, who died aged 24 in December 2002 following a five-year battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
But the 12-year-old dog has not been seen since September 7 when he disappeared while being looked after by a friend at Ms Anderson's home in Victoria Road North, Southsea.
Now she is using internet sites Twitter and Facebook as well as plastering posters across Portsmouth offering a 100 reward for information leading to Rocky's safe return.
So far the Facebook group Missing Staffy Named Rocky has attracted 293 members, but despite reported sightings in the city Rocky is yet to be found.
Ms Anderson, who has two other dogs – seven-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier Crystal and three-year-old Peruvian hairless Miska – said: 'The internet is just another way of trying to reach people. I didn't know what else to do.
'I still can't sleep properly. He's such a special dog and he is a reminder of my son.
'He was about eight months old when we got him. I didn't want a dog at the time but my son talked me into it.
'There's just something about Rocky. He has a nice character.
'This time of year is particularly poignant for us because Alexis died passed away in December. Rocky was the last real material thing we had left of him.'
The loss of Rocky has come as an added blow to mental health worker Ms Anderson, who was in Peru visiting her 81-year-old mother Hilda who died of colon cancer six days before he disappeared.
She added: 'For my mother to pass away and then this to happen is very upsetting..'
Rocky's distinguishing features include a missing front right tooth, a white star on his chest and a mole on his neck.
Anyone with information is asked to call Lily on 07751 228671 or her daughter Tanya Woodall on 07590 654611.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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