text: A grandmother was left feeling 'sick and scared' after she received a chilling ransom demand for her stolen dog. Vivienne Garton, 65, was devastated her 10-year-old West Highland terrier Ben was snatched from her garden in Knowle West, Bristol, earlier this month. She began an appeal to find him and put up posters near her home, but shortly after she received two phone calls from an anonymous man threatening to cut up her pet unless she paid £500. Scared: Vivienne Garton, 65, has been left devastated after her West Highland terrier Ben was stolen. She put posters (pictured) up near her home but since received an anonymous call threatening to cut up the dog . The caller gave the address of an empty house in Bristol and a phone number which she handed to police, who are now investigating. Mrs Garton, who lives with her husband and four grandchildren aged between eight and 18, says a number of her posters have now been ripped down. 'I feel sick. I have had him for ten years - he is my little baby. I just want him home safe. I'm so worried. I don't know who could do that to someone,' she said. 'I don't know if it is a hoax or if he has really been stolen by someone. It is scary. It was a man on the phone and he sounded middle aged. He said he would cut Ben up.' Loving pet: Mrs Garton's 10-year-old dog is partially sighted, partially deaf and cannot walk long distances and has been missing for a fortnight . Ben, who is partially sighted, partially deaf and cannot walk long distances, disappeared from the family home on Sunday April 12. Mrs Garton, who suffers from arthritis, explained that she sent the dog outside because he was hassling her while she was cooking Sunday lunch. But when Ben failed to come back  she grew concerned and went outside to find a hole in the hedge. She said that while it was possible he could have escaped it was very out of character and was unlikely that he wouldn't return. She said: 'There was a little hole in the hedge that he might have got through, but it is very out of character for him not to come back. 'We went straight out looking for him but there has been no sign of him ever since. I am worried he has been stolen and somebody has him in their garage.' A social media campaign, started by her neighbours, is becoming increasingly popular in the hope of returning the pet. She added: 'Friends in the area have been great and I have so much support from people. We are all worried sick and must have driven about 300 miles in the past week just looking for him. 'Sometimes we cross paths with other people out doing the same thing. The entire family is worried and stressed out about him. We've always been a dog-loving family - I have had dogs ever since I was little. Ben is the smallest one we've ever had and he is a member of the family now.' A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset police said: 'We have received reports of threatening phone calls in relation to a lost dog. We are investigating an incident of blackmail.' Devastated: Mrs Garton says she has been left feeling 'sick and scared' after receiving the calls, which have now been reported to the police are investigating an incident of blackmail .
target: Vivienne Garton, 65, was devastated when her 10-year-old dog was stolen .
  She started appeal to find him but received a call from anonymous man .
  Caller threatened to cut up her West Highland terrier unless she paid £500 .
  He gave address of empty house and police are investigating the blackmail .