The distraught new owner of a rescue dog who suffered serious burns in an acid attack has issued a desperate appeal for her safe return.

Sapphire, a young female lurcher, went missing while out on a walk with her new owner on Sunday at Kilgarth Landfill Site in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire.

The rescue dog, known as Saffy, had one of the "most horrific starts in life" after suffering severe abuse and has now gone missing after settling into her new home.

Owner Kat Norrby has appealed for help in finding her pooch and the local community are offering their help with the search.

Ms Norrby said: "I need my girl back home with me where she belongs. She is very much loved and missed. I am so worried that someone will find her and keep her thinking she has been recently abused.

"Her rescue story touched so many people in the beginning and she grew a real fan club who have followed her progress since – they all want her back home safe and sound .

"I really hope someone has picked her up and is looking after her but I’m concerned that someone will think she has been abused recently and not report her as found.

"With the temperatures dipping below freezing she needs to be at home snuggled on the sofa where she belongs."

When Sapphire was originally rescued by animal charity Hope Rescue in 2013 she was found staggering the streets and was barely able to walk. Animal rescuers initially thought she had been run over by a car because she was so badly injured.

It turned out Sapphire had suffered horrific abuse with third degree burns to a large area of her body caused by chemicals being thrown over her.

There was an outpouring of support in the local community when she was first found and Sapphire made it to the cover of Dogs Today magazine.

Sapphire, who is mainly black with white on her chest and rear toes, is microchipped, wearing an identification tag and is spayed.

She is heavily scarred with large patches with no fur, she has missing front teeth and a broken tail from an old injury. When she went missing she was wearing a red and grey Three Peaks collar.

Due to her background she will be very scared and frightened and unlikely to come easily to someone she does not know.

Anyone with any information, or sightings, please contact either Sapphire’s owner Kat Norrby on 07947 672491 or Hope Rescue on 07545 822919.

Vanessa Waddon, of Hope Rescue, added: "Sapphire is a very special girl. It really was touch and go in the beginning as to whether she would survive – she really was one of the worst cases we had seen.

"The burns were horrific and it was heartbreaking to think of how much pain she must have been in. But her strength and determination won through and she has come such a long way. We hope that same strength will keep her safe while she is missing – she is a real fighter.

"I’d like to urge the public in the area to keep their eyes peeled for her and report it as soon as they can to give us the best chance of catching her. She is very distinctive and we hope people seeing these photos will recognise her if they spot her."