The owner of a dog who has been missing for 13 weeks has gone to extraordinary lengths to find his pet, including smell animal poo and sleeping on a fly-tipped mattress in the woods.

Stuart Smith, from Rayleigh, featured in the Echo on October 25 after his dog, Khan, went missing in Hockley.

Since then, Stuart has climbed Canewdon church tower with a BBC Springwatch camera on his back, boiled tripe on the back of his van, slept on a fly tipped mattress in the woods to create a scent, and smelt all sorts of animal poo by hand in an attempt to find his seven-year-old Leonberger.

He said: “Some people will no doubt think that I am crazy but I have so many people willing me on and helping to put up posters for Khan that I will try anything to let him know we are looking for him.”

Since then, it’s believed Khan has travelled as far as the Wickford area and back towards Danbury,  but to date no one who thinks they have seen the huge dog has managed to get a photo of Khan.

Stuart said: “I’m 100 per cent sure he is out and about as I have certainly seen his footprints in the mud around some of the earlier sightings.

"The Springwatch camera company contacted me and they were amazing. From the top of Canewdon Church these cameras can spot a bird in a tree in the dark many miles away. They could see an animal of Khan’s size miles away and tried to guide me on foot to him.

"But it was pitch black and I just couldn’t see him although the camera guys reckon I came within a few meters of him before Khan turned and disappeared.”

Stuart is supposed to be building a new home,  but that has been put on hold as he spends most days monitoring Khan’s “Help Find Khan Lost In Hockley – Essex Any Sightings” page on Facebook which now has 5,000+ members, and going out at night to lay down scents, check cameras and pursue new leads.

Christmas was cancelled and an holiday planned for January has been postponed.

For Stuart and Sharron life is simply “on hold” while they live in limbo waiting for that call that Khan has been spotted.

Being a larger than average size Khan should be noticeable but he is a tough breed, able to survive in the great outdoors, travel distances and even cross streams that other dogs would not.

Like most missing dogs, he is now in what is known as “survival mode” which means humans – even a dog’s owner – is seen by the animal as a predator.

Stuart said: “I have chased plenty of sightings and even found other lost dogs that are German Shepherd types but Khan is larger than that, his tail by breed is fluffy but usually down not up and he is dark brown and we believe now muddy and less recognizable.

"But I will follow up any lead until I know it is not Khan. We just need that one call or photograph that will be the one that gets him home.”

Most recently, a night runner in woods came across Khan. The runner didn’t realise the significance until he discussed seeing the dog with fellow runners who then showed him the poster of Khan.

Stuart said: “I spoke to the chap and I am sure that it was Khan that he saw. It’s agonizing being so near and yet so far but I really appreciate the help of so many people including complete strangers who are giving up their time and have stuck with us on this journey to find him.”

This week businesses have been rallying behind the search with Millsys Kitchen in Lower Road Hockley taking the lead by offering a free tea or coffee plus 15% off food to customers with a Khan poster in their car.

The idea has been taken up by Your Pets in Rochford which is offering 15% off new bookings and DLC heating and Plumbing who is also offering the same deal. Other businesses are coming on board.

For Stuart every day starts with a renewed sense of purpose to find Khan: “It is tough. Both myself and Sharron have had some real down times and plenty of tears because we miss him so much. He is our baby, he does everything with us. He travels with us, he sits on us for a cuddle which was quite something given his size and we have just got to get him home. I’m out every night looking for him, but friends and volunteers will be out again this weekend too.

Stuart deserves all the help he can get to track down Kahn and will not stop until he is found: “We have had drones up across fields and a friend has offered his helicopter to search a wider area from the air. What I could do with is Bear Grylls or Ray Mears getting on board to come and teach us how to survive and search properly.  ”

Anyone who sees Khan should NOT approach the dog but call Stuart on 07958 470 920 immediately.

Details:

Khan’s Facebook page is: Help Find Khan Lost In Hockley – Essex Any Sightings

Millsys Kitchen is: 07790 198 157

Lauren at Your Pets is via email lauren@your-pets.co.uk

DLB Heating is 01702 811 300