A heartbroken Laois family are desperately appealing for information that may reunite them with their beloved missing pet.

Craig Shaw and his partner Ruanne Hunt from Portarlington have launched a campaign to bring their dachshund Milo home, after he went missing near Derryounce lakes in December.

The pair have been fighting tirelessly to find three-year-old pup Milo, whom they say is 'their entire world'.

The worried couple have combed the area he went missing from every day, and have even slept near Derryounce lakes in the hopes that he may return.

"Milo is a timid little dog. As deeply as we miss him, we are more worried for him. He must be so scared, this must be so horrible for him," Mr Shaw told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"We are desperately worried, we just want him home. Myself and Ruanne don't have children, he's almost like a child to us," he explained.

Milo went missing on December 14, having bolted out of fear after being spooked by other dogs. He is a black and tan mini dachshund, with a barely noticeable patch of white hair on his chest.

"Myself and Ruanne were away for the weekend, and Milo was with her parents. They have dogs and would be used to looking after him," Mr Shaw said.

"They were on a walk when some dogs chased after Milo, he wasn't on his lead and he bolted off down the road in fear- they were out walking along the bog road towards Portarlington.

"Milo was seen sprinting past by someone in the car park, he never stopped and went straight down the road. We landed in Dublin airport and got the call that he had gone missing, we drove straight home and went looking. Milo hasn't been seen since," Craig said.

"We have searched the area day after day, we have even spent nights in our car in the area he went missing, just in case he comes back during the night. False alarms are fairly common, he's a little black dog. He hasn't been seen since Sunday December 14," he said.

Pictured: the couple with their adorable pup Milo

The couple have received tips of sightings of dogs similar to Milo, but they all turned up as dead ends. They are fearing that Milo may have been picked up by a passerby.

"At this point we think he was picked up by someone, we've spent all day, every day scouring the area. We have done everything to find him. He could have been picked up and sold, it's quite typical to happen as it's a good looking breed.

"He may have been picked up by someone with good intentions who doesn't know we are looking for him. Fortunately for us he is neutered and microchipped," Mr Shaw said.

Pictured: Milo the adorable miniature dachshund has been missing since December 14 in Portarlington

The pair are offering a substantial cash reward for information that may lead to the return of the dachshund.

Craig and Ruanne bought Milo as a puppy when they lived in London, and brought him with them when they moved to Ruanne's hometown of Portarlington.

"We have been living in Portarlington for a year and a half now, he is an import to the area like myself. We both work hybrid, so there was always someone at home with Milo, and all he wanted was to sit in our laps. He is a very affectionate dog, but he might be skittish or quiet if he is approached by someone. He can be very nervous of people outside of his family," Mr Shaw explained.

"All we want is to see him come home, we are desperate. Money isn't an object, we are more worried about our poor Milo," he said.

Mr Shaw said that when they first came across Milo as a pup, he picked them, rather than the couple choosing him.

"My partner and her parents always had dachshunds, we were thinking about the idea of getting a dog when Milo came up on our radar," he said.

Pictured: Milo is a sweet and timid family dog

"We didn't think we were quite ready, but he was just so beautiful. We called over to the owner and it was just the Mum and three pups. Milo was so interested in us compared to the other pups, he was the one who picked us. We couldn't leave without him," he said.

When Milo disappeared, he was wearing a black harness with a white fur trim. He may not still be wearing it.

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"Milo is only barky when he is confident and comfortable, he ran away once before and the person who found him said that he didn't make a single noise, so he will likely be very quiet," Mr Shaw finished.

Have you seen Milo, or have you any information as to where he might be? Get in touch with Craig and Ruanne on their Facebook group dedicated to finding Milo here. Alternatively, email findmilo2026@gmail.com.