A HEARTBROKEN family has made a last ditch attempt to trace their pet dog which has been missing since the June 19 floods in Northern Ryedale.

The dog, a border collie called Dewi is the only pets still to be traced after the floods tore through Rye Boarding Kennels at Hawnby.

Now after hours of desperate searches covering miles of countryside in Bilsdale, her owners are making one last effort to find them.

Mrs Julie Eccleston of North End, Boltby, had put Dewi and another sheepdog, nine-year-old Keri, together with the family's two cats, Peggy Sue and Hannibal, into the kennels. All were saved except Dewi who has not been since the floods.

Dewi, aged 11, has been with the Eccleston family since he was found a new home from the RSPCA at the age of 18 months.

National Park rangers, dog wardens, the police, staff at the Sutton Bank visitor centre, the local pony trekking centre and veterinary surgeons have all been on the look out for Dewi.

Keri was found in a barn none the worse for her terrifying ordeal in the floods while the cats found safety in a van.

"Dewi is a laid back character - a lovely dog and he was a good swimmer," said Mrs Eccleston.

But yesterday brought sad news for Mrs Marian Agar of The Oaks, The Airfield, Wombleton, whose three-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier, Cracker, was found dead.

She had been part of the family since she was a few weeks old.

He was bought for the family's 13-year-old son Jamie, and he like the other two small children in the family, is heartbroken.

"We are all missing her," said Mrs Agar who has like Mrs Eccleston distributed posters carrying Cracker's picture, over a wide area, fixing them to telegraph poles, village notice boards and trees.

The family's hopes were raised when they received reports of a dog being seen at Duncombe Park woods, resembling Cracker's description, but it proved to no avail.

Meanwhile, Mary Griffiths, who runs the kennels, has vowed that they will re-open, probably as early as September.

She said: "We have been inundated with offers of help from a very wide area and with donations from as far away as Penzance.

"We are trying to co-ordinate the support we have had because we are going to have call on the generosity of volunteers because our insurance cover was nothing like adequate.

"We do want to thank everyone who has helped us because our home was destroyed and with it our business."

Mrs Griffiths said she and her husband Ray were moving into a temporary caravan home and they were now starting work on rebuilding their kennels at a higher point in Hawnby well away from the flooded area.

"Our local villagers have been remarkable," said Mrs Griffiths.

"Clothing and bedding has been cleaned and nothing has been too much trouble."

Neighbours rallied round to clean their home and volunteers from the Vale of Pickering Dog Training Club responded to calls for help, cleaning what kennel equipment could be salvaged.

Other neighbours and friends had provided counselling.

"The damage to the kennels is heartbreaking but we are determined to come through it."

She added that North York Moors National park planners were being very supportive.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mrs Eccleston on (01845) 537605, while Mrs Griffith's can be contacted at Rye Boarding Kennels on (01439) 798327.

Updated: 16:04 Wednesday, July 27, 2005