A veterinary surgery has warned dog owners to be on their guard after a woman's dog was snatched from a pen in her garden.

Jack Russell Midge was found the day after he disappeared from a closed pen in Lisa Smith's back garden in Green Lane, Ewelme, near Wallingford.

He was found in a field off Beggarsbush Hill, south of RAF Benson, and Ms Smith said he was "shaking and absolutely terrified".

She is convinced Midge was stolen as he has never run away or escaped from the pen in the three years she has owned him, and there was no way he could have left the pen by himself.

Larkmead Veterinary Group, in Cholsey, where Midge is registered, has now warned other dog owners to beware.

It keeps a record of stolen and lost dogs and said many thefts had been reported in the area in the past two years.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Victoria Evans said there was a record of Midge's disappearance, but no others in the area in the past few weeks.

A member of surgery staff said it was mainly "working" dogs, such as Jack Russells and other terriers, that were targeted, probably for hunting or breeding.

She said: "I can't give a figure of how many, but there have been a lot in the past two years. It seems to come in spurts and it is important that people are warned. It is devastating for the owners."

Ms Smith, 36, who takes Midge to work with her at Trimmers hairdressers, in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, every day, believes he was dumped when thieves found he was castrated - so was no good for breeding - or because he was too noisy.

She and her mother Jean are so devoted to Midge that they entered him in the Oxford Mail's Pet Idol competition earlier this year.

She said it was "heartbreaking" when they discovered he had gone.

Midge went missing from the closed pen between 11.30am and 2pm on Friday.

He was found on Saturday evening after being spotted in the grounds of RAF Benson.

Ms Smith said: "So many people helped to find him and I'm extremely grateful.

"It's not just that he wouldn't run away, he couldn't get out by himself.

"I think other dog owners should beware there are dog thieves about, and if you have dogs that people are interested in, don't leave them on their own."

Ms Evans said: "We received a report of a theft of a Jack Russell from a garden in Ewelme, Wallingford, on Saturday.

"Offenders entered the garden, some time between 11.30am and 2pm, and removed the dog from a locked pen."

Anyone with information should call 08458 505505.