A dog owner has launched a desperate search for her pet after it was sold over the internet without permission.

Nicola Luke, 26, had placed her 15-month-old English bull terrier Harvey in the care of its breeder - the woman who originally sold her the puppy - while she moved house.

But she has discovered the woman sold the dog on earlier this month and it is now in the hands of a couple from Sussex.

Miss Luke, from the West Midlands, said: "We had stayed in touch ever since buying Harvey and trusted her with him.

"She asked us for all his official papers but said it was in case he suddenly needed medical treatment."

Miss Luke called the breeder every couple of days and was told Harvey was doing well.

But when she telephoned to arrange to collect her pedigree pet after a few weeks, the breeder said she had sold him.

Miss Luke said: "I went absolutely mad. How could she do that to me? I was phoning her all the time to check up on him so she knew I cared about him and was coming back to collect him.

"She said nothing about it until that last phone call."

Miss Luke contacted DogLost, an organisation which traces lost and stolen pets, and discovered an online advert offering Harvey for sale on www.epup.com.

She traced the advert to a couple from Bewdley, Worcestershire, who said they had bought the dog from the breeder.

But they said they quickly sold Harvey on for £500 to a couple from Sussex.

Miss Luke demanded the details of the buyers but the pair said they knew nothing about them other than they were from Sussex, the woman's name was Gemma and the man ran his own renovations company and was in the process of doing up a house.

Miss Luke said: "I begged them for more information but that is all they would tell me.

The police are investigating but they have had no luck. Now I am just hoping someone in Sussex will have seen him."

Miss Luke is sick with worry for Harvey.

She said: "He has been shoved from pillar to post by people who don't care about him while we are going out of our minds.

"He won't know what is going on or where he is. He has allergies that need medical attention. I just want to know he is okay."

Nik Oakley, of DogLost, said: "That people will sell and buy live animals over the internet is sickening."

Anyone who thinks they may have bought Harvey can take him to a vet and ask for his microchip to be scanned. It has Miss Luke's details encoded onto it.

Anyone who may have seen Harvey should contact Miss Luke on 07891 246297, DogLost on 01909 733366, or Walsall Police on 0845 1135000.