THE OWNER of a missing dog is urging Sussex Police to register her beloved pet as stolen.

Pepper, a ten-year-old spaniel crossbreed, went missing from the garden at her home in Rowfant near Crawley Down at around lunchtime on Tuesday, April 6.

Owner Nicola Penn reported Pepper’s disappearance to Sussex Police, but the force has since registered the dog as lost, rather than stolen, after it found no evidence to suggest she has been taken.

The Argus: Pepper went missing from her home nearly Crawley Down on April 6Pepper went missing from her home nearly Crawley Down on April 6

But Nicola is convinced Pepper was stolen from the garden as it would be “uncharacteristic” for her to venture further.

She is now calling for Sussex Police to register Pepper as stolen and investigate her disappearance as part of Operation Collar - a dedicated operation to respond to and help prevent dog thefts.

Nicola said: “Sussex Police say that because Pepper wasn’t in a locked kennel or locked in a house, she can only be registered as lost.

The Argus: Pepper's family are urging Sussex Police to register her as stolenPepper's family are urging Sussex Police to register her as stolen

“We have a big garden, and although it isn’t 100 per cent secured, I know she just would not go off.

“She stays by my side, especially as I have been shielding.

“We want to work together with Sussex Police and put on a united front against the thieves.”

Sussex Police recorded 31 dog thefts in 2020, but at least 12 of those were disputes over dog ownership between known parties.

The Argus: The family are appealing for anyone with information about Pepper to come forwardThe family are appealing for anyone with information about Pepper to come forward

Nicola is concerned that many more dogs like Pepper are being missed from these statistics and that the real figure may be “considerably more.”

She said: “We are not going to give up. We will not give up looking for her.

"We owe it to our dog that she can come here and spend the rest of her old age in our loving care.

READ MORE: Sussex family of missing dog Pepper will 'never give up'

“If we never see Pepper again it will be a tragedy, but if could help get one dog back that will be a little help to us emotionally.”

PC Ian Buckman said when a missing or stolen dog is recovered, police “do all they can” to reunite it with its owner.

He said: "We know the emotional impact of a missing dog is considerable, with victims left bereft and searching for their much-loved family member, in some cases not knowing whether they have been lost or taken.

“Unfortunately, because of the nature of these incidents, it can sometimes be difficult for us to identify whether or not a crime has occurred and, if it has, if there are any realistic investigative lines of enquiry.

"We have endeavoured to contact the owner since she made the report, which has been investigated.

“However, there is no evidence to show the dog has been stolen.”

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Anyone with information or who saw anything suspicious in the area around the time this dog went missing is asked to report online or call 101 quoting serial 311 of 10/04.”