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A dog rescued from awful conditions in Romania has escaped from its rescuers after just two days in West Wales.

Eight-year-old Yola, a rescue dog sent over from Romania, escaped from her new home in Pencader in the early hours of Sunday, June 25.

Rescuer Hazel Woolgar said Yola would be terrified and she had up to 75 people searching, using drones and safe traps - but so far there had not been a single sighting.

“I take in Romanian and Bulgarian rescues, I have nine at the moment," said Hazel.

“The treatment of dogs is so awful out there, dog catchers are paid per dog they catch.

“People will burn strays alive, for fun. It’s really bad.

“Yola was living in some woods, and kept having puppies because she wasn’t spayed, and the dog catchers would kill her puppies in front of her, because they couldn’t catch Yola."

According to Romanian Rescue Appeal UK stray dogs are targeted on the streets.

Its website states: "While many residents feed them, others attack them - they are deliberately run over, shot, poisoned, set on fire and beaten to death, or worse still, mutilated and left to die a slow and agonising death.

"If they avoid this fate then they are likely caught by the dog catchers who take them to the public 'kill' shelters."

Mrs Woolgar said it is understood Yola had avoided capture in Romania for up to eight years.

“She is so traumatised and afraid of people because of all that’s happened," she added.

“A lady managed to get her, and sent her over to me.

“Yola isn’t dangerous, she has a very gentle nature, she’ll just run away and hide but as soon as you feed her she’s fine.

“I’ve been taking care of rescue dogs for 48 years and I’ve never lost a dog, until now.

"I had her for two days before she got out."

Hazel asks that anyone who sees her not attempt to catch Yola because she is so afraid of people.

“She’s a very smart dog, because the whole area is contained by a 6ft high chain link fence, and we can’t find any signs of digging, she’s just gone.

“There are drones out looking, cameras, traps, and 70 to 75 people out looking for her.

“We just need a sighting, someone to tell us where to look.”

It is understood Yola's Romanian rescuers are looking to travel to Wales to help with the search.

Anyone with information about Yola’s whereabouts is asked to phone: 01559384868, or 07791079669.