A distraught family are pleading for the return of their dog, after they returned from holiday to find their pet had been RE-HOMED.

Michael Lockwood left the family's much-loved border terrier pooch, Chocolate, with a friend in Hayes , when they set off for a trip to The Philippines on December 7 2015, from Heathrow Airport .

After two weeks, the friend let Chocolate out in the garden but he escaped over her three-foot fence and ran into nearby fields, on December 18.

The worried friend met the family on their return at Heathrow, on January 7 to deliver the “shocking” news.

Mr Lockwood, who lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, said: “She was there at the airport - I came out at arrivals and she just looked absolutely pale. She came towards me and explained.

“I just instantly went blank; I couldn't talk. I was shocked. My children started crying and my wife just burst into tears.

“I don't know how a little dog can affect us so much, even now the house is quiet – it's not the same any more.”

Five-year-old Chocolate had been found by a member of the public in Horton Close, Hayes, on the same day he went missing, and was reported to Hillingdon Council .

Unfortunately, Chocolate did not have a microchip or ID tag, which has been a legal requirement since 1992 and must have the owners name and address on it.

Although microchipping is currently not compulsory, it will be a legal requirement as of April this year.

Chocolate was sent to the kennels, run by SDK Environmental in Slough, who are contracted by the council to keep stray dogs for a seven-day period.

'Your dog has been re-homed'

An advert searching for his owners was placed on website DogLost, but unfortunately as no one responded he was given to a charity, who then re-homed him in just four days.

The friend had frantically searched the Hayes area and went to a local vet, but she said they failed to tell her about DogLost.

Mr Lockwood, a 35-year-old bar manager, said: “When we got back, we phoned Battersea Dogs Home who put us through to the dog warden at SDK.

“They just bluntly said, with no sympathy: 'Your dog has been re-homed'.

“That was it! We had nothing but pure coldness from the warden.

“What's really scary about it is this all happened in 10 days. He was lost and found on the 18th, then there was the statutory seven days and once they'd gifted him to the charity, within four days he was re-homed.

“It was very, very quick – I don't know how that happened, was there someone in line waiting?

“I've looked into how many dogs go into kennels and get re-homed within four days – hardly any.”

Councils have a statutory duty to take care of stray dogs for seven days. They will hold on to dogs for longer if they have contact with the owner within that period, or if the dog is injured or in quarantine due to an infection.

If a dog is not claimed after the statutory period, they are found loving homes through animal charities.

'Lost a part of the family'

Although Mr Lockwood is grateful Chocolate is alive, living without the pedigree border terrier has been tough for his wife, Miriam, and children, Leah, aged nine, and eight-year-oldJacob.

He said: “Leah's got thousands of photos of him on her phone and her iPad, she's got them all over her bedroom.

“I don't know what to say to her. I feel like I've lost a part of the family.”

The upset dad-of-two has tried everything to get their pooch back, but reached a dead end when Hillingdon Council would not reveal which charity re-homed Chocolate.

He hopes the new owners will find it in their hearts to return him, and is even offering a financial reward.

Mr Lockwood said: “I'd thank the new owners but please give him back – he's our little boy.

“I could tell them his whole life story, where he grew up, what he likes doing, even now I'm worried because there's one distinct feature about Chocolate - he's got a behavioural problem where he bites his right thigh and needs extra care for that.

“I'm glad he's alive and we knew what happened to him. It would have been even more of an emotional roller coaster for us if we still didn't know.

“We just want him back, it would mean the world - he's a part of the family.

“My family don't want another dog, we don't even want to speak about getting another dog.

“We don't want anything else we just want Chocolate.”

A Hillingdon Council spokesperson said: "We are sorry for the loss suffered by Mr Lockwood’s family and hope that no one else has a similar experience.

“This sad case reinforces the need for dog owners everywhere to microchip their dogs, give them an ID tag and always call the council immediately if their dog goes missing.”

If you have re-homed Chocolate and would like to get in touch with the previous owners, email katherine.clementine@trinitymirror.com