Search goes on for missing Pastis despite removal of posters

The search for a missing dog is continuing despite appeals for information being taken down and posted back to his owner.

Pastis went missing from his owner’s farm near Thirsk at 8pm on December 8.

Since then, owners Valerio and Aurora Goia have spent 12 hours a day searching for their beloved pet.

The couple also printed 200 posters appealing for information on their whereabouts of Pastis which they pinned up around in the area.

They made a note of the locations of the posters so they could be taken down later.

However, the couple were upset to receive an envelope containing some of the posters, which had been ripped down, with an anonymous note saying their dog was “not coming home” and that it had “been stolen or it’s dead”.

The note said: “There is a substantial collection of plastic litter which has been slowly degrading and causing plastic residue (A4 sleeves, tape, cable ties) to litter the countryside.

“It’s dead and therefore it’s time to remove your detritus.

 “This sort of trash does not decompose and cable ties and the perforated strip on A4 sleeves are a hazard to wildlife.”

It added: “If a dog goes missing on 8th December the chances of its return after two weeks is extremely limited.

“It’s either not coming home, by choice; it’s been stolen or it’s dead and therefore it’s time to remove your detritus.

“Over the past two weeks I have removed possibly twenty and binned them — wet, illegible and now somewhat pointless.”

But the couple have vowed to continue searching for their pet and have asked supporters to keep sharing the appeal.

Valerio said: “What a sad person, who decided to collect a lot of posters of our missing dog, Pastis, and return them to us with a letter not signed.

“Let me tell you, sad person, that Pastis, like our other pets, it’s not only our dog, he is part of our family.

“He is the closest thing to a child we will ever have. We are putting posters out not because we like to litter the countryside, but because we are trying to keep high the awareness that yes, Pastis is still missing, and we want him home.”

Supporters helping in the search have set up a Facebook group to share information.

For more details click here.