A family who spent months desperately searching for their missing cocker spaniel have announced the devastating news that her body has been found.
Mabel, an 18-month-old cocker spaniel from Fylde, vanished from a farm in Inskip on April 10, sparking a major search effort that attracted widespread public support across Lancashire and beyond.
Her owner, Sarah Livesey, launched a tireless campaign to find the much-loved family pet, with thousands sharing appeals online and volunteers helping to search for the dog.
At one stage, a £10,000 reward was offered for information leading to Mabel's safe return.
In a statement shared on the R.I.P. Mabel Facebook group on Friday (July 18), administrators confirmed the tragic outcome.
The post read: "It is with the heaviest of hearts we announce that Mabel's body has been found.
"Sarah and her family are absolutely broken, they did everything they could to find their girl.
"At the family's request, please do not message or call them directly, and please respect their privacy at this horrific time.
"We will not be divulging any further details as police enquiries are still ongoing.
"Please leave your condolences here for the family to read when they are strong enough."
The group also thanked the public for their support during the search and acknowledged the impact the news would have on those who had followed Mabel's story.
Mabel's disappearance prompted a police investigation after officers said they believed the dog may have been stolen.
Earlier enquiries focused on the area around junction 3 of the M55 near Kirkham after a witness reportedly saw a dog matching Mabel's description being chased and put into a white van later on the day she went missing.
The case attracted significant attention, with Sarah repeatedly speaking of her determination to bring Mabel home.
In an emotional appeal during the search, she described how the loss of the family pet had left a huge void in her life and thanked supporters for standing behind the campaign.
Mabel was microchipped, had a missing alert linked to her details and a DNA profile on record.
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Lancashire Police had previously appealed for anyone with information, CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage from the Inskip and M55 junction 3 area on April 10 to come forward.
Lancashire Police have been contacted for an update following the announcement that Mabel's body has been found.
Anyone wishing to leave messages of support for Sarah and her family is encouraged to do so through the Facebook group, where tributes continue to be posted.
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