Strangers rally to find missing dog

Published 14 Aug 2010 08:00 0 Comments

A WOMAN says her view of human nature has changed after total strangers helped in a desperate two-day search for her missing dog.

Emma Williams, 36, was distraught when she brought home rescue dog Annie for the first time on Thursday evening and the Labrador broke out of her collar in Larks Hill, Warfield and bolted towards a busy road.

Miss Williams said: "Just the horror of getting her out of the car for the first time and seeing her run off into the road was awful. I felt physically sick."

As Miss Williams and her partner Stuart Young, 45, chased after Annie, four, a crowd of neighbours, pedestrians and motorists all came running to help.

The search went on into the night, aided by people including two men called Neil and Andy, a passing couple with a newborn baby, staff at Bracknell Forest Council, who also gave up their own time, and members of Berkshire Search and Rescue Dogs.

Friends set up a Facebook group to search for Annie, who Miss Williams met through the dog charity Labrador Rescue and another friend even recruited members of a church prayer circle to pray for her safe return.

Charity, DogLost, helped Miss Williams with making posters, then many people who saw them called to wish her luck.

A low point came on Saturday when someone thought they had found Annie dead by the side of a road but it turned out to be a deer instead.

The breakthrough came on Sunday when Jiggs Lane North resident, Margaret Smith, spotted Annie in her front garden at 2.30pm and called Miss Williams.

It took a couple of hours but finally Annie was caught.

Miss Williams, a sustainability communications manager for BT, said: "It was just amazing. Everbody was just crying and hugging each other. It was bizarre and lovely."

She added: "I have been really touched and quite surprised by how wonderful people are. I've always had faith in animals but people keep themselves to themselves. People have just been so genuinely concerned and willing to help. It's really changed my mind.

"We are really lucky where we are, to live in such a community.

"It is just wonderful, the kindness of strangers."

Now Annie is resting at home with Miss Williams' female black and white cat Camden and male miniature Schnauzer, Bailey.

And instead of "missing" posters, Warfield has been covered with heartfelt signs to say "thank you - she's found".

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This article appeared in Villager 12 Aug 10

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