Hockley Woods: plea in search for missing dog one year on

Lauren Staerck, from Benfleet, fears her three-year-old tan Patterdale Terrier may have been stolen, sold on, or rehomed after she went missing in Hockley Woods on July 4 last year. 

Missing - Freya, a three-year-old tan Patterdale Terrier (Image: Newsquest)

The 26-year-old has been left heartbroken and has continued to search for Freya ever since.

Lauren said: “The last year has been the hardest year of my life, constantly not knowing where my girl is, if she is safe.

“It breaks my heart every day.

“I want nothing more than to get her home with me. I still can’t think about her without getting overwhelmed.

“We have done everything I can possibly think of to get Freya home.

“Between us walking for up to 16 hours a day, pretty much every day for months, just in case she was there.

“I have had amazing support from the community, and Tilly’s Angels, giving out thousands of leaflets, organising drone searches, and posting daily on social media.

Heartbroken - Lauren with her beloved Freya (Image: Newsquest)

“Freya is part of our family, and it has caused so much upset and stress. We miss her every single day, and we won’t give up our search.”

Freya was reportedly seen days later on July 11, 2023, not far from where she went missing by a group of builders, but hasn’t been spotted since that day.

Lauren added: “My fear is that someone has Freya and is maybe using her for breeding or treating her badly, maybe even sold her on to someone who is innocent.

“But surely someone must have seen her or knows something.

“I am just hoping she is safe and loved. She deserves all of the love in the world.

“To anyone that could help us in searching for Freya, if you have any information at all, please contact us.

“No matter how big or small you might think it to be, it could bring our baby home.”

To contact the family, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/581144374198773/