A family is hoping an emotional video will help reunite them with their beloved pet dog who is still missing after being stolen more than a month ago.

Six-year-old cocker spaniel Sampson was taken from a garden in Priory Road, Bilsington, Ashford, on Thursday, January 22 after he was let out into the garden to go to the toilet.

The three-minute film, which has been viewed more than 1,300 times on YouTube and shared by hundreds of people on Facebook, features pictures of Sampson playing in the garden, snuggling in his basket and being cuddled by his owners.

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Heartfelt messages, written from the dog’s point of view, saying how much Sampson is missing his family are accompanied by the popular song You Are My Sunshine.

Pat Rooke, 69, owns Sampson with her husband Mick, 70, her daughter Suzanne Moore and her grandsons George, 20, and James, 13.

Pat said: “Sampson likes going for walks and he loves water but he’s also a soft dog, he’s a pet, a house dog and he’s so loved. I don’t like to think about where he might be because he’s going to be so confused and wondering what the hell is happening.

“I let him out into the garden to do his normal wee. After 10 minutes I looked out and he’d gone. He’s lived with us for two years and my husband has trained him. He always comes back to the whistle and he never goes out of the garden. We went up and down the road blowing his whistle but nothing.

“I didn’t realise until we started registering Sampson on missing dog websites just how many dogs are stolen, it’s unbelievable. I just can’t believe somebody could do it.

“When I was asked what music I wanted on the video, I chose You Are My Sunshine because that’s literally what he is. I just want him home.”

The video was created by Claire Gresty, a volunteer with Dog Lost, a website set up to reunite missing and stolen pooches with their owners.

She contacted Sampson’s family after they registered him on the Dog Lost website and has made similar films for other missing pets.

After Sampson disappeared, Mick recalled seeing a large van backing into their driveway two or three weeks previously and the family fears the driver may have returned knowing the dog was there.

Sickeningly, the family has received prank calls from heartless people pretending to have found their dog.

Once Pat and Mick drove the 15 miles from Bilsington to Pluckley thinking they were going to pick up Sampson, only to receive an apologetic text message from someone admitting a family member had been playing a cruel practical joke.

But despite the disappointment, Pat and her family are staying positive.

She added: “We keep saying he’ll be found, we’re not going to be negative at all. Every time I drive up the road I think I’m going to see Sampson running up to me.

"Each time I get home I think my husband is going to say: ‘Look who I’ve got.’ Every day I think this is the day I’m going to receive that phone call.

“People have been so helpful and kind, it’s nice to know there are people out there who want to help us.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting crime reference number ZY/2879/15. A Facebook group has also been set up to help find Sampson.