A DOG owner has thanked the Weymouth community who helped bring her beloved puppy home after he ran away.
Caroline Cropper and her two daughters Maisie, 12, and Sophie, nine, were beside themselves when their seven-month-old Collie and German Shepherd cross ran away while he was being walked near All Saints School in Wyke Regis last Saturday.
Bucky, a rescue dog, was being walked by Caroline's ex-partner John and Maisie at about 9.30am when he bolted down Lanehouse Rocks Road and away from passersby trying to catch him.
After receiving a frantic call from Maisie, Caroline - who was working at Weymouth Library at the time - jumped on her bike and rode home, putting in calls to family and friends to look out for him. She couldn't have imagined the response from the local community who rallied round to track Bucky down.
Caroline said: "I was so worried when Maisie called me and told me Bucky had run off - I just remember shaking and not knowing where to start.
"I messaged my mum and sister and my best friend and they just took over and worked it all out. My friend phoned somebody else who made a poster and they got it out on Facebook through Dog Lost, a lost and found dog service, and more than 200 people shared it. Then upwards of 20 people, some of whom I didn't even know, went out looking for him."
At 5pm, Caroline had a call saying that Bucky has been seen on Curtis Fields so she, Maisie and Sophie headed over and searched until 10pm when they made the tough decision to go home as it was getting dark.
Caroline said: "It was so awful leaving Curtis Field and knowing my baby was out there but we needed to get home."
At around midnight, Caroline received a phone call from a woman who had seen the poster on Facebook saying she had seen Bucky on Freemantle Road, so Caroline drove over and saw him in a side alley.
She said: "When he saw me he bolted further up the alley so I sat at the end throwing treats to him but he still wouldn't come out. He had come quite close to our home though and I was so pleased to see him.
"I went back to the car leaving a trail of treats and then decided to make my way home hoping he would follow.
"At about 2am he appeared at the front door but he still wouldn't come inside. That's when my cat Purdey came down and shepherded him in so I could get the door closed behind him.
"Once he was in he jumped straight into Maisie's lap and wagged his tail and he knew he was home and safe. He hasn't left my side since."
Caroline added: "I am so grateful to everyone that helped look for him and that shared the poster on Facebook - the Weymouth community is truly amazing."
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