Missing dogs returned home and reunited with their families

In each of these cases the pretty pooches went missing from their family homes, bringing worry and distress to the owners.

But fear not, each of the furry friends were reunited with their loved ones once again!

Bruce – August 2, 2021

An owner sent a plea to the public to help find her dog which went missing in the New Forest for more than a day.

Jack Russel Bruce went missing at popular walking destination Deerleap.

He was spotted numerous times in and around the car park.

However, his worried owner Sarah Cannon asked people who saw him to "please not approach as he is scared and may run away."

She added: "I have been astonished with the amount of help and kind words from so many people!"

Bruce was found safe and and well the following day.

Arran – January 2020

When six-year-old bearded collie Arran went missing, there were various sightings in the days that followed.

Madeleine Fear and her friend camped overnight in Ringwood Forest in -6 degrees in the hope Arran would return to the car park he fled from, but to no avail.

Arran bolted from his dog walker in Ringwood Forest has been found.

Madeleine and Arran's owner camped out for days in an attempt to entice Arran back.

Madeleine exclaimed in a Facebook live video: “As soon as we saw him we got him.

“A woman on the Ringwood Road phoned me, he was in the back garden. We called him, went up to him and he just came right up to us.”

Izzy – December 2018

The Daily Echo told its readers about Izzy, a miniature Yorkshire Terrier, who had been snatched from the pavement outside her home in Wonston Road, Aldermoor.

Hanna Loughnane said she had spent days scouring the area to try and find the 10-year-old dog after she nipped out of the cat flap.

She posted numerous flyers throughout the area as well as searching day and night for her dog.

Izzy was returned to the family after the man seen on CCTV taking Izzy saw Hanna’s plea online.

Hanna, a motorcycle technician, said: “The man said it was raining outside so he didn’t want the dog to get wet and his friends then told him about the appeal.

“I’m just so overwhelmed with the support from everyone in the community.

“The Echo’s appeal was read by so many people. If the word hadn’t been spread like that, I don’t think we would have got Izzy back to be honest.

“We’re over the moon Izzy is back for Christmas and I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who helped.

“Izzy is safe and well.”

She added: “We were hoping for a happy ending and thankfully got one.”

Baxter - April 2016

Baxter the springer spaniel went missing with a witness saying they saw him being put into the back of a flatbed lorry by a man.

He had run off along with his owner's other dog near Broughton Down, although the other dog was soon found.

Police had issued an appeal to find Baxter, and soon after they revealed that he had been found safe and well.

Hampshire police said: "Great news!

"Baxter has been found safe and well. He was found in the Awbridge area of Test Valley and was handed to the dog warden. He has been reunited with his owners.

Dooley – April 2016

A dog was reunited his family after he went missing from his home for 13 days sparking a forest-wide hunt around Lymington.

Dooley, the plucky young puggle, was spooked while out with dog walkers after bolting two weeks previously.

The four-year-old’s absence forced his owners, Ben and Natalie Jesty, to embark on a military-style search-and-rescue for their beloved pet who was sorely missed by their children.

A Facebook group set up to encourage sightings not only gained 1,200 followers but saw residents out looking for Dooley even in the dead of night.

Ben and Natalie took to the woodland after every reported sighting. On one occasion Natalie fell waist-deep into a slurry pit losing her car keys, and on another, Ben and some friends went searching, armed with torches and a lamb’s head in a bag which they hoped would attract their pet.

But during the course of the search they not only lost each other but came across another family walking in the Forest - forcing them to awkwardly explain the unusual bait.

Meanwhile Dooley, who had turned feral after a few days of being parted from his loving family, had trekked eight miles across the Forest, with sightings reported at The Pig in Brockenhurst, The Rising Sun at Tiptoe and The Filly Inn at Setley.

“He looks great for a dog that’s done Bear Grylls for 13 days,” Ben said, adding that their puggle had been on a pub crawl while they’d been endlessly searching for him.

“It’s been crazy - you couldn’t write this stuff. You realise how much they mean to you when they’re not there. We have spent 15 hours a day every day searching for him.”

In the end it was two-year-old Jack and six-year-old Mia who helped to bring Dooley home, after experts warned that feral animals find adult voices threatening, forcing Ben and Natalie to urge people not to approach Dooley in case he was spooked again.

Natalie sat with Jack in a field in the hope Dooley would be there.

Ben said: “He started circling them then he just clicked and slowly came over.

"As hard as it was we took the experts’ advice and within 48 hours we had him back. Thank goodness.”

 

Taz – February 2006

A missing police dog whose disappearance sparked a search in the New Forest was reunited with his handler.

Taz ran off during an exercise session at Ocknell, just north of the A31 between Cadnam and Ringwood, with Hampshire's Dog Support Unit.

His handler and colleagues searched the area looking for the 19-month-old German shepherd.

Following a public appeal there were a number of sightings and Taz was found near Emery Down.

A spokesman said: "He was found by a member of the dog support unit none the worse for his lost 28 hours. We would like to thank all the people who called in - we wouldn't have been able to do it without you."