Senior Dog Missing for 6 Years and Mistaken as Stray Gets Rescued from U.K. Roadway
“Not all stray dogs have a story like Rose... but every stray dog matters to us just the same…,” said Lost Dog Recovery UK South
Courtesy of Lost Dog Recovery UK South
A photo of Rose, who was rescued from a U.K. roadside.An elderly dog found in the U.K. is finally getting her chance at a happy home.
Nonprofit organization Lost Dog Recovery UK South announced in a Facebook post that a 12-year-old Patterdale Terrier named Rose, which had been missing from its owners for about six years, was finally getting her chance at having a family.
The organization said it all began when they received a message about a small, black dog running in the road near Crawley Down, West Sussex, and stopping traffic. The organization decided to investigate and set out food for the dog, along with cameras to track her movements.
They also asked residents in the nearby area about the dog, who told them that the dog had been a stray “who lived locally” for “about ten years” and that “she should be left alone” because “she was in good condition, fed and cared for.”
After discussing the situation with another household which had been leaving out food for wildlife and were supposedly “responsible for her care,” the organization decided that they would try to get the dog some help. They set up a trap on Dec. 9 for the dog by setting out a warm roast chicken feast with a JR Pate topper and managed to catch her at around 8:30 p.m.
“Understandably she was shocked and scared, but very gentle, and was taken immediately to the warmth and safety of kennels,” the organization shared.
After taking her to the kennel, they found out that her name was Rose and that she had gone missing from her owners less than 24 hours after being adopted in March 2017. The dog had gone missing from a place called Ashurst Wood, which was located about six miles away from where the organization found her.
However, when the organization contacted Rose’s registered owners, they told them that they would not be able to take her back in as they had moved away from the area and were no longer in a “position to take her back.”
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“After the initial shock, our absolute JOY at finding a long-lost dog is tinged with sadness as there is no “happy reunion” for Rose; she never got the chance to know the love of her family,” Lost Dog Recovery UK South said.
The organization said that it would take her to a rescue where she would be able to get “patience and rehabilitation” and “ongoing vet care and medication.”
In an update post a week later, the organization announced that Rose would be cared for by Last Chance Animal Rescue in Edenbridge, U.K. It also noted that several families have also inquired about potentially taking her in and offering her “a safe, warm and loving home.”
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“Not all stray dogs have a story like Rose... but every stray dog matters to us just the same…,” the organization said in the post. They also shared a message in the original post asking that if people find a stray, they work with local rescue organizations to get them the help they need.
“Please don’t leave a dog straying for any longer than they have to be… not only for them and their wellbeing but also for the sake of any humans who love them,” the organization said.
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