A RESCUE dog who went missing last year, travelling over 100 miles across Hampshire and Wiltshire, is the star of a children's book. 

Luna, a nine-year-old pointer-beagle mix, came into the care of Karen Chapman after being rescued from Cyprus by Melina Kyriakou, the founder of the nonprofit animal rehoming organisation SuperDogs Rescue. 

Now, Karen, 38, has written a children’s book titled Little Lost Luna to raise money for small dog organisations, which she says helped find Luna after she went missing for 10 days in November 2022.

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The book, which is self-published by Karen, will detail Luna’s story of going missing after being spooked by fireworks just two months after being adopted by Karen.

Karen says she was devastated but extremely grateful for the support she received from volunteers. She added: “So many kind volunteers were looking out for Luna on the run, spreading word of her disappearance and reporting back sightings.”

Solstice Missing Dogs, a non-profit organisation based in Wiltshire, joined the search, documenting and mapping sightings of Luna. It determined that Luna was hiding in Bentley Woods, Wiltshire, venturing out for food.

Karen said that on the 10th day of Luna's dissapearance, Paul, a Wiltshire resident, called Solstice Missing Dogs after spotting Luna in the field opposite his house.

With guidance from the organisation, Paul lured the pointer-beagle mix into his garden, and then into the kitchen where she could be picked up to return home.

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Karen hopes that Luna’s story will spread awareness of missing pets, as well as the efforts that are made by ‘kind people’ to bring them home safely.

She also hopes that Luna will inspire others to adopt animals in need, saying: "It is one of the most rewarding things to be able to make an animal happy and to repair their confidence in the world."

Little Lost Luna which was illustrated by Ellie Tompkins, is available to buy for £9.99 until Wednesday, February 14, with 50 per cent of all profits donated to small dog charities and non-profits such as Solstice Missing Dogs and SuperDogs Rescue.

For more go to littlelostluna.com