Pet owner's £20k reward for return of missing Irvine dog

Vishal Lal’s three-year-old Pomeranian, Bear, vanished from his garden in the town’s Old Perceton just before midday on January 11.

Despite a massive search, including Ayrshire’s Drone Rescue Team and members of the local community taking part, no sign of Bear has yet been found.

(Image: Contributed) The trained anxiety and trauma dog has been an enormous support to recovering alcoholic Vishal, who had been 500 days sober thanks to Bear’s presence in his life.

Now he fears his support dog has been stolen to order from the garden.

Putting up the £20k reward for Bear’s safe return, Vishal said: “I have had great support from locals, particularly the Ayrshire recovery community and the drone rescue team. The team from Arran View Lodge have helped too.

“But I haven’t slept for more than half an hour since we lost him.

“It now appears that he’s been stolen from the back garden. That’s why I’ve put up the reward.”

(Image: Contributed) He said any information about Bear’s whereabouts would be treated with the strictest confidence and said the reward would be handed over with no questions asked.

Vishal added: “It is not just like losing my dog, it is like losing my left arm or leg. Bear is my anxiety dog. I feel like half of me is missing.”

If you have any information about Bear’s whereabouts, contact us at irvinetimes.co.uk or call 078241 59976.