A SECOND search is ongoing today to find a dog which was lost by his distraught elderly owner, after he was trampled by cows.

The man, from Richmond, had been walking his dog, Martha, near Richmond on Monday (August 16) when he was trampled by a herd of cows while walking through Coalsgarth Valley near the old racecourse.

He was found by a passing motorist at the side of the road with broken ribs and a head injury and taken to hospital, but was left distraught at the fact he had lost his dog, which fled during the incident.

He is now said to be on the mend from his injuries, but is still distraught at the loss of Martha. There have not yet been any reported sightings the black terrier cross, who has a greying muzzle.

Now a specialist dog tracking service, K9 Trackers has come forward with an offer to help find Martha. The volunteer dog tracker uses Beagles to track down lost dogs.

A search took place yesterday at the racecourse at 2.30pm and another one is due to take place today (Saturday, August 20).

One of the people who has helped coordinate the search, Ann Marie Brown said: “Everyone feel free to join me and some other people; we're meeting at Tesco petrol station at 8:45am, for those that do not know where the search area is, otherwise 9am at the car park entrance of the old racecourse at Richmond. If anyone could spare some time it would great to see as many people as possible.

“This old girl is out there somewhere and she's been out a few days now bless her, we need to get her home.”

Any sightings will be passing on to K9 Trackers, who will then go to the scene to try and find Martha.

The man’s family, who do not wish to be named, have asked for no other dogs to be taken on the search, saying: “We are asking for no other dogs and no shouting etc. Martha will be scared so we just need sightings and then if people do see her to call.”

News of the man’s plight at losing his terrier cross, Martha, prompted a phenomenal response reaction via social media, with thousands of shares to social media posts and offers of help. Chops Owen an administrator with the Facebook page Lostbox, which helps owner’s find lost items, has helped set up a Facebook group, Martha's Group #findMartha.

A post on the group is asking for the person who cared for the injured man to get in touch: "Can I make a big plea to anyone that can help to trace the kind person that took the owner to the police station and on to hospital. We are keen to find out where exactly the owner was picked up roadside. The person we believe was only visiting the area to do some mountain biking."