A COMMUNITY on Facebook has united to help find a lost dog.

Derek, who was rescued from Crete, travelled an estimated 100 miles in three days earlier this month, including across busy dual carriageways and railway lines whilst he was being looked after in Worthing, West Sussex.

Sarah Dillow, who lives in Basingstoke, said she was “devastated” when she was told that Derek had ran off after being spooked by another dog – just 24 hours into her summer holiday.

“We love him so much and the thought of him being alone back on the streets was heartbreaking.

“We were absolutely distraught, we had only had him for four months,” she continued.

“For the two nights he was missing, we barely slept and couldn’t tell the kids.”

They put out a Facebook post appealing for help, which was shared over 2,000 times on day one.

After getting in touch with Julie Briggs, who has helped many people find their lost dogs, a Facebook group was set up and a search was started, co-ordinated by Sarah’s sister Clare Darnell.

“I knew losing him would break my sister’s heart so we put absolutely everything we had into searching for him for the next 60 hours,” Clare said.

Drones were put up and Derek’s best doggy friend, Casper, was brought to West Sussex to leave a scent to help find him.

“After the second night I booked a flight home because we decided that the only person he was going to come to was me,” said Sarah.

However, just as she was about to leave for the airport, she got a call saying he had been found.

“That is what makes it all worthwhile,” said Julie, whose knowledge on how to find lost dogs has come from the group Canine Capture.

“I literally sobbed with happiness,” Sarah said about the call to say he was found.

“Derek is part of our family so the three days he was missing were just horrendous.”