A BELOVED family pet has gone missing from a home in Hove and it's feared she could have been stolen.

Emily Arlidge and her family have been left “heartbroken” after waking up on Sunday morning to find that their pet dog was not asleep in her bed.

Daisy, a five-year-old dachshund cross breed, was last seen in the early hours of Sunday morning when Emily’s mum went downstairs to check on the dog after hearing a noise.

The Argus: Emily and DaisyEmily and Daisy

The family are now appealing for any information to help to find Daisy after growing increasingly concerned that she may have been taken.

Emily, 25 said: “We’re just absolutely heartbroken. We’re just so scared that she is somewhere scared and it’s just horrible to think that someone might have taken her away from us.

“It’s broken us. We just want her back.

“You don’t think it’s ever going to happen to you.”

The Argus: Daisy has not been seen since Sunday morningDaisy has not been seen since Sunday morning

Emily said it would be “out of character” for Daisy to try and escape from the garden but she would be likely to investigate if she heard a noise outside.

She told The Argus: “My mum heard a funny noise that she thought was Daisy - she uses our cat flap because she’s so little and whenever she hears a noise, she runs out there.

“My mum went downstairs, turned all the lights on and Daisy flew back through the cat flap and settled back down in the front room where she sleeps.

The Argus: The family are appealing to anyone with information about DaisyThe family are appealing to anyone with information about Daisy

“At about 2am my sister heard her fly out the cat flap again which is unlike her.

“Then when my dad woke up between 7 and 8am, he went downstairs and wasn’t greeted by her and instantly started looking for her, but she was nowhere to be seen.”

“The fact my mum heard this strange bark at 1 am, it’s made us think that maybe she saw or smelt someone.”

The family said they have been “overwhelmed” with support after sharing photos of Daisy on social media, but they have still not received any information regarding her whereabouts.

Anyone with information is asked to contact emily-185@hotmail.co.uk or to call +447904789652.

A spokeswoman from Sussex Police said: "We received a report that a miniature dachshund/jack russell dog was missing from a garden in Nevill Road, Hove, on Sunday (21 March) at about 8.45am.

"The owner believed the dog had been stolen.

"Anyone who has any information about the dog is asked to report online or ring 101 quoting Operation Collar."