Missing dog found after big Facebook campaign

Missing dog Bute was found thanks to a Facebook campaign Missing dog Bute was found thanks to a Facebook campaign

A bullied dog which strayed ten miles from its owner has been found thanks to a Facebook campaign.

Bute, a rescue farm dog, sneaked off from owner Helen Parsons as she walked in Worthing on Monday evening (November 19).

A huge Facebook campaign was launched with more than 300 people sending messages to look out for Bute.

The dog had only come into Mrs Parsons’ care eight days earlier after being rescued from a centre. She had been taken from the farm where she worked because she was tormented by the other dogs.

Strangers responded to the Facebook campaign by reposting the animal’s picture online, putting up posters of her and searching Worthing and the surrounding area. One woman finally recognised Bute from the social networking site.

The two-year-old was in Arundel – ten miles from where she was last seen. The woman took her to a rescue centre in Climping, near Bognor, which had also heard about the Bute campaign.

Farmland adventure

Mrs Parsons, who lives in Cumbria and was visiting her children Paul and Kim Hughes who live in Worthing, collected her the same day.

The 58-year-old said: “It is amazing that she got so far.

“I think she took a straight line through farmland and ended up in Arundel.

“She probably bedded down in a farm as she is used to doing that.

“But from now on she will be safely on a long lead.

“I am so grateful that so many people went on Facebook and other social networking sites to find her. People actually went out and looked for her, which is wonderful.

“I really want to let people know how grateful I am. It is wonderful.”

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Comments(7)

plantwoman says...
7:25pm Mon 26 Nov 12

Was she not on a lead then? Surely if you've only just acquired a dog you'd keep it on a lead when out walking? Quite apart from the fact that it is a legal requirement now to have your dog on a lead in Worthing and the Adur area.
I think she should consider herself very lucky indeed to get the dog back unharmed.

Juleyanne says...
7:48am Tue 27 Nov 12

What a pleasant change to see Facebook used postively - well done guys. I have to agree with previous comment. Ideally the new dog should have been kept on a lead
at a minimum until dog and owner have bonded and basic training in place ie recall. Of course a many dogs can react to a trigger situation like sudden noise or aggression from other dogs but that is why getting to know your dogs capabilities and hang ups is essential before you unclip the lead for the first time! Some dogs with a tendency to 'leg it' through fear, chasing rabbits etc may be
well require to stay on extension leads or training leads for safety reasons. Anyway, thankfully the 'power of Facebook saved the day' and the lady has her dog back. well done.

menowhere says...
8:16am Tue 27 Nov 12

im sure the lady in question will help you off of your soap boxes and thank you with tea and scones and a puppy party ;)

menowhere says...
8:16am Tue 27 Nov 12

im sure the lady in question will help you off of your soap boxes and thank you with tea and scones and a puppy party ;)

Goldenwight says...
8:31am Tue 27 Nov 12

Was this dog not microchipped or equipped with a collar and name tag, then?

Because that will get stray dogs returned even by luddites like me who don't use facebook.

nosolution says...
9:02am Tue 27 Nov 12

As an owner of working collies it sounds to me like the poor dog was trying to get home to its original farm,somewhere near Cumbria perhaps.It may of been "bullied"as we call it but bottom of the pile is better than no pile at all.Glad for them though it was a happy ending..

nosolution says...
9:03am Tue 27 Nov 12

As an owner of working collies it sounds to me like the poor dog was trying to get home to its original farm,somewhere near Cumbria perhaps.It may of been "bullied"as we call it but bottom of the pile is better than no pile at all.Glad for them though it was a happy ending..

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