A six-year-old girl is "really upset" after a seagull dropped into her garden and made off with her miniature chihuahua in its beak.

The child's mother, Becca Hill, said her partner was putting some washing out in Paignton, Devon, when he suddenly saw the bird "swoop down".

"It carried Gizmo a fair way as we couldn't see him anymore," she told Devon Live.

Image: An online appeal has been made to find Gizmo. Pic: doglost.co.uk

"I have no idea if he was dropped or where he is now."

Although her daughter did not see Gizmo being taken away, Ms Hill, 24, said she was "really upset" and "missing her dog".


"Please, please, please, anyone finds a chihuahua he's mine, a seagull took him from my garden," Ms Hill wrote on Facebook.

After an appeal was posted on doglost.co.uk, a contributor called Captain said: "A lot of gardens have been checked and cleared along with rooftops, garage roofs and trees."

Image: It is hoped Gizmo will be found alive. Pic: doglost.co.uk

The search was due to resume on Monday morning.

Another contributor, called Hasi'smum, wrote: "Apparently he [Gizmo] was taken and flown more or less parallel with the main Marldon road over the roofs down towards [and maybe further than] Ailscombe Drive."