A SPANISH rescue dog that sparked a huge search operation when she vanished on Christmas Day, has died.

Tan, black and cream pooch Maggie was rescued from a life on the streets in Spain and taken into the care of charity SNDogs.

The five-year-old crossbreed was then rehomed with the Rolfe family who live in Swanbrook, Covingham but had only been with them a few weeks before she bolted on Christmas morning.

A frantic search began with many members of the public uniting to try and track down the missing dog.

But in a heart-breaking turn of events and after nearly two weeks on the run, Maggie was hit by a car in Witney on Wednesday night and died from her injuries.

Jessie Bascombe, founder of charity SNDogs, which cared for the perfect pooch for two months, said she was heartbroken to receive the sad news.

“I was absolutely devastated when I heard, I couldn’t believe it had happened,” she said.

“Maggie was a very cuddly loving girl who came from a very poor pound background in Spain.

“I am grateful to her owners for giving her a home and happiness for the short time she was with them.”

Maggie was born in a Spanish pound and endured many difficult years in rescue.

She found it hard to trust humans as a result of her past, something which SNDogs and her new owners were working on with her

Maggie was brought over to Swindon with canine companions Todd and Eva who she had a particularly close bond with.

Eva was drafted in to help search for the brave pooch.

The courageous canine travelled more than 20 miles from Covingham and was seen in the Dockle Farmhouse carpark, running past Honda in the direction of Stanton Fitzwarren, in Ermin Street, near St Margaret’s Church, Stratton, Hannington at Nell farm and Pentylands Field, Highworth and at Roves Farm

“The problem was that Maggie never remained in the same place for long enough for people to get to her,” said Jessie,

“She was constantly running. We put traps down with food and we used CCTV in the car park but she moved on too quickly.

“Maggie was very, very wary of humans and it was difficult for humans to get close to her as they tried to catch her,

“This was a tragic accident and nothing could be done which is what I have told Maggie’s owners who are understandably devastated by this.

“Maggie was always very nervous of humans and it was something everybody was working on with her.

“She was a very special little girl with a big heart, she will be sorely missed by all of us.”