A dog owner is pleading for the public's help after her miniature poodle went missing - and now she fears he has been stolen.
Islington woman Lindsay Holas left her pooch Sammy with a dogsitter in Kensal Green when she went to New York to visit her family.
But the day before she was due to return home on October 19 she received "the worst possible text".
The dogsitter said her three-year-old dog had escaped through an open door, and they had searched for him but could not find him.
Lindsay said: "I immediately flew back to London, dropped off my bags and went straight there. He was gone, there was no trace of him."
The 33-year-old, who works in marketing, contacted the police and Transport for London.
She and friends scoured the area and put up more than 200 posters and 1,500 post box flyers, but received no credible sightings, only "horrible prank calls from kids".
She has received support from charity Dog Lost, which told her the lack of results pointed to theft.
"I've had Sammy since he was a puppy, a miniature poodle who is six kilograms of absolute love," Lindsay added.
"We are absolutely devastated and have done everything we can and hope someone comes forward.
"This isn't your phone getting snatched or your car broken into. It's a member of your family, it's an animal with feelings going through hell.
"He had his collar on, he had a tag with all his details. It shows someone picked him up and doesn't give a fig."
A spokesperson for Dog Lost said: "We are seeing a huge rise in 'theft by finding'.
"We don't understand why many people think it is OK to find a dog and just keep it.
"There are frantic owners and loving families looking for these dogs.
"Finders and members of the public are requested to take dogs to a vet for urgent scanning to alleviate the heartache caused by a missing dog.
"If they cannot do this, call the local council dog warden - details of who to call is on the government website at https://www.gov.uk/report-stray-dog."
A Met Police spokesperson said anyone with information should call police on 101 or message @MetCC with the reference 01/1059299/24
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