Crossword Genius

Animal missing? Blast it! (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

doggone

'blast it' is the definition.
(both are mild curses)

'animal missing?' is the wordplay.
'animal' becomes 'dog' (I have seen 'Domestic animal ' mean 'dog' so perhaps 'animal' could also mean 'dog').
'missing?' becomes 'gone' (synonyms).
'dog'+'gone'='DOGGONE'

(Other definitions for doggone that I've seen before include "expression used by irritated person" , "Infernal" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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