He has been missing since New Year's Eve and may still be being kept by a woman who was seen that night putting the much-loved pet into her car outside the Burns Club in Kambah.

Samson, an 11-year-old rescue dog, is owned by former Canberra woman Leanne Waldron and her family including two young sons who are missing him desperately.

The family now lives in Sydney and had to return home without Samson despite searching for him extensively, putting up posters and putting him on the lost dog database on Facebook.

Leanne said her sons Remy, 5, and Ari, two, didn't understand why Samson had not come home.

The dog went missing from Leanne's parents' home in Kambah during fireworks around 10pm on New Year's Eve.

Someone saw the dog at the Burns Club and put a photo of him on Facebook around 10.35pm. Leanne's sister rushed to the club to collect him, but he was gone.

The Burns Club helped out the family, going through its CCTV footage. It revealed a woman putting the dog into her car.

Leanne said she was thankful the woman might be caring for Samson but wanted her to return him to his family by dropping him off at a safe place such as a vet, the RSPCA, Domestic Animal Services or a local police station.

"Family, friends and strangers have all searched through the long grass and under bushes, in drains and dams," Leanne said.

"We have been overwhelmed by the support from the community, but still no sign of him."

If you know anything, let us know by emailing megan.doherty@canberratimes.com.au