A DOG owner who has spent her entire Christmas break trying to bring a much-loved member of her family home has told of her heartbreak.

Willow the English Pointer has been missing for two weeks and is suspected to be somewhere in the military base in Bovington or surrounding areas.

Lindy and Simon Manning were walking their dogs when 18-month-old Willow ran off after deer in the Black Hill area of Bere Regis.

Since then, there have been multiple sightings of Willow in Wareham Forest, Crossways and Bockhampton.

The Manning family are appealing to residents of these areas to keep an eye out for a brown and white dog.

People are advised not to approach her and call her name or whistle, but to immediately call Lindy on 07971 024154 or Simon 07808 770692 with any sightings and to report any signs of Willow having stayed in barns, sheds or outhouses.

The family have spent their entire Christmas holidays trying to bring a much-loved member of their family home.

Lindy said: "She went running after some deer and then kept going.

"She is just running scared

Among some of the sightings of Willow, a gamekeeper within the Bovington military base spotted a dog in the area.

Lindy said: "He said he saw a dog and threw her something to eat and she scoffed it, but when he turned to try and catch her she had already gone.

"The military have been very helpful and we have had help searching in the area by being escorted around.

"We just really hope she is safe and someone finds her, but it is a risky place to be and we are worried there could be a tragic accident."

Willow has been described by her family as a friendly dog who loves people, however, dogs behaviour can often change when they have been left alone or lost.

Lindy said: "I've read a lot and heard from other people that when a dog gets lost they go feral and they go to ground, the survival instinct kicks in and they won't respond to their name being called or approach people.

"I find it so hard to believe because I have had English Pointers all my life and they just love people, so I'm sure if she saw someone she would come up to them."