A FAMILY pet rescued from the Thai dog meat industry has gone missing just two days after arriving in the North-East.

Mackintosh escaped from the garden of her new owners on Valley View in Sacriston, County Durham, on Monday morning.

She is mixed breed, but looks like a black Labrador, and was last seen on the B6532, near Edmondsley, at around 5pm on Tuesday.

Brian and Susan Hardy adopted her after they were moved to tears by the plight of dogs in Thailand.

Mackintosh was rescued from the streets around a year ago when she was a five week old puppy after some men were trying to poison her.

Mr Hardy, 62, who works as a civil servant, said: “We have waited so long to bring her over here and it is heart-breaking. We are urging people to contact us so we can bring this poor dog home.”

The couple are working with the Soi Dog Foundation to find her and a £500 reward is being offered for information that leads to her rescue.

Foundation member Donna Freelove said: “Please don’t try to capture her as she’ll run and we will have to widen the search.”

To help with the search call 07796-552-359 or 07533-731-632.