A distraught dog owner is offering £15,000 for the safe return of her beloved Chihuahua - which was plucked from her garden 23 months ago.

Kathleen Easton, 52, refuses to give up hope and has put her life savings on the line in a last-ditch bit to be reunited with pooch Luna for Christmas.

The security officer's two-year heartbreak began on January 23 last year when she realised Luna had been snatched from her home in Bradford, West Yorkshire, at 5am.

Sick with worry, the fretful pet lover tried to scramble the police but claims her local force did not bother to join the search, even when she was given a potential lead about the dog's whereabouts.

Now, in a clear signal that time has not healed the pain Ms Easten feels from the theft, the crushed owner has staked a massive reward.

Explaining her decision, she said: 'My life is in tatters, it is like having your child taken.

Kathleen Easton, 52, refuses to give up hope and has put her life savings on the line in a last-ditch bit to be reunited with pooch Luna for Christmas

The security officer's two-year heartbreak began on January 23 last year when she realised Luna (pictured) had been snatched from her home in Bradford, West Yorkshire, at 5am

'The only thing that is different with dogs is that they don't have a voice, we have to give them a voice.

'You really don't know what it's like until it happens to you, it's like your whole life has been taken away.

'I have to believe Luna is alive and I will get her back, so I have offered up my life savings of £15,000 to bring her home.

'I felt I had no other choice.

'It was my savings for holidays and because you never know what is going to happen next.

'It would mean the world to get Luna back for Christmas.'

Ms Easton believes her home was targeted after Luna was snatched from the garden by thieves who jumped over the gate because dog thefts were common in Bradford at the time.

Sick with worry, the fretful pet lover tried to scramble the police but claims her local force did not bother to bolster the search, even when she was given a tip about the dog's whereabouts

She set up an online appeal for the pooch, who she had since she was a puppy and would now be three years old.

Her Facebook page documenting the case spread all over the world and racked up 12,300 members.

On the two year anniversary of when Luna was taken, Ms Easton plans to release a book titled Looking for Luna to tell her story and also to draw on the experiences of others who have had their dogs stolen.

She has spent £2,000 producing the book and will spend more getting it published on Amazon on January 23 next year to mark the anniversary.

Ms Easton said: 'Since Luna was stolen, I have campaigned and I have fought.

'She was taken from a secure garden - it was definitely a targeted attack as lots of dogs had been stolen from the area.

Explaining her decision, she said: 'My life is in tatters, it is like having your child taken'

'I believe she was taken by two well-known criminals.

'We were advised to stay away from them.

'After I complained to the Police and Crime Commissioner, a police inspector went to the known home where Luna was but it was a week too late.

'It has taken a toll on my appearance, this is something people who know me have commented on.'

A spokesman for the Police & Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire's office confirmed they had been involved in the investigation.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: 'Police spoke to Ms Easton after she contacted the Police and Crime Commissioner of West Yorkshire with concerns about the investigation into a report of theft, which was first received by police in April 2018.'