VOLUNTEERS turned out in force over the weekend to try and find a dog which ran off after his elderly owner was trampled by cows.

People combed the area around Richmond on Saturday looking for Martha, a black terrier cross, who went missing when her owner was injured while walking through Coalsgarth Valley near the old racecourse on Monday (August 16).

He was found by a passing motorist at the side of the road with broken ribs and a head injury and taken to hospital.

He is now said to be on the mend from his injuries, but is still distraught at the loss of Martha, who fled during the incident.

There has been a large social media response to the man’s plight, with thousands of people sharing the news and offering to help. A special Facebook group, Martha’s Group #findMartha has also been set up.

As a result, searches took place on Friday afternoon and Saturday with the help of kind-hearted well-wishers keen to reunite the dog and her owner.

People spent several hours on Saturday searching what is a vast area around the old racecourse and Coalsgarth Valley.

One searcher posted: “Thank you to all who went out searching this morning.

“From the advice I have been given, Martha is most probably still in the area and hiding - so let’s not give up. There are plenty of places in the valley where she can find shelter.

“I intend to go up the evenings just before dusk, when hopefully she will come out of hiding to look for food and water and food.”

It is now believed there may have been two possible, but unconfirmed, sightings of Martha.

One person posted to the site that believe they saw Martha at The Batts in Richmond, drinking from the river near the bridge over the weekend.

One person helping coordinate the search, Anne Marie Brown, said anyone who comes across Martha is asked to not chase her, but sit quietly and call her name.

People are also asked to remember to shut field gates to prevent cattle escaping if searching farmland.

Anne Marie posted on the Facebook page: “Please keep an eye out, don't chase her. Just sit and calmly say her name, she's extremely timid.”

Anyone with information should call 07810 715789.