A MINEHEAD businessman and his family have put their lives on hold while they search for their beloved family dog who disappeared in mysterious circumstances over two weeks ago.

Kevin Sully, his wife Sarah and their children Max, 13, and Macy,10, have spent hours every day combing the woods and fields around Washford in search of nine-year-old border terrier cross Ruby, who vanished only yards from Kevin’s workshop at Bardon, Washford, on Tuesday , February 15.

Since then, dozens of volunteers, lost dog charity workers and specialists with drones and electronic listening equipment to probe fox and rabbit holes, have scoured the area. Hundreds of posters have been circulated and appeals made on social media. But up to now every effort has been in vain.

Kevin is now pinning his hopes on a single clue - a report that a woman driver claimed to have seen a small brown dog near Tropiquaria Zoo on the Sunday after Ruby’s disappearance.

“We are desperate to get in touch with the woman and have put leaflets all around the district hoping someone will know who she is,” he said.

Kevin owns Cold and Flue Chimney Solutions, but says that since Ruby disappeared he has been unable to concentrate on the business. “Now all I do is look for the dog,” he said. “I can’t really think about anything else. I can’t sleep and I am out at all hours just searching the countryside down to the last hedge and ditch.

“It’s completely taken over my life. The whole family is devastated. Ruby is a huge part of our lives - the house isn’t a home without her - and we will never rest until we know what has happened to her.”

Ruby is spayed and micro-chipped and was wearing a collar when she disappeared. “She is a nine-year-old cross-breed and not the sort professional dog thieves are targeting,” Kevin said. “But you can’t rule anything out.”

He said Ruby accompanied him to work every day in his van and to the workshop he has at Washford.

“On this day we returned to Washford in the van at lunchtime after doing a job and Ruby jumped out and headed towards a nearby lawn for a run - something she had done thousands of time. Ten minutes later, after unloading the van, I called Ruby for the journey home and there was no response. Nothing has been seen or heard of her since.”

Kevin told the Free Press: “I called the family and we searched the surrounding area but I knew that something wasn’t right - it was so out of character.

“Since then, we have never stopped searching and we’ve had an amazing response. Parties of over 30 have been out in all weathers and there have been Facebook responses from all over the country.

Kevin added: “We’ve used every sort of technology we can think of, including drones and tracking cameras, but nothing has produced any clues. I have literally crawled through brambles and walked 65km in the first three days and found absolutely nothing.

“It is a complete and utter mystery, but it is one that we will never give up trying to solve”.

Anyone with information about Ruby is asked to search for the Missing Ruby Border Terrier, TA24 Somerset Facebook page, or phone 07525 823469 or 07976 243317.