The brother of a man with disabilities is calling on the community to help in any way they can to bring his missing elderly dog home.

The brother of a man with disabilities is calling on the community to help in any way they can to bring his missing elderly dog home.

Ricci Wilson’s brother Jess Loveridge has had Yorkshire terrier Darby since he was a puppy, and is so distressed by his disappearance from their garden in Bassingbourn last Saturday afternoon that his health has suffered.

Ricci told the Crow: “We’re so worried – Jess has stopped eating, and said if Darby’s not been fed he can’t be.

“There was an early possible sighting of him at the top of the road, and since then all I have been doing is walking all the paths, the roads and checking the ditches.

“I have walked from Bassingbourn to Steeple Morden, on to Litlington and up all the roads towards Shingay-cum-Wendy and back. There’s nothing. There’s not even his collar or anything.”

Jess, 46, has very bad arthritis and hip deformities, a heart condition, a growth on his brain stem and learning difficulties. Ricci has been his carer for 20 years and they live together at the home in Park View.

Ricci said it was Jess who discovered Darby – who turns 12 today and usually wears a black leather tartan collar – had gone.

He said: “If Jess doesn’t see Darby within 10 minutes he’s calling him and calling him.

“Darby has spent his life on Jess’ lap, so he is nervous of others because they are so close. The dog hasn’t got instinct like people would think he has, he’s like a baby.

“They are always together, when Jess has to go to doctors appointments or hospital appointments, other members of the family have taken him out within 20 minutes Darby is screaming for Jess.

“If someone has taken him, I can only hope they are looking after him if they are not going to give him back. He is microchipped, we have offered a reward, I’m just having a load more leaflets printed up, apart from walking I don’t know what else to do.

“My brother wants to help so he’s been taken out in the car, but you can’t see much in the car.

“If anyone knows where he is, or sees him please phone me straight away. If they don’t want to do that, take him to the nearest vets. We just really, really need him back.”

For more information on the search, go to the ‘Help find Darby’ page on Facebook. If you see Darby call Ricci on 07753 165321 immediately.