Owner 'overwhelmed' after dog lost in storm found

A dog which escaped from the garden of her new home during Storm Boelo has been found after four days on the run.

Natasha Lapsley said she had only owned Suzie the cocker spaniel for about 90 minutes when strong winds blew open her garden gate.

After tracking her new pet around housing estates in Ramsey for more than an hour, Natasha said she lost sight of Suzie and contacted Noodle's Canine Rescue (NCR).

"I just felt sick with anxiety worrying about her," she explained. "The weather was so bad and she was out in a place she didn't even know."

The Isle of Man was hit by 70mph (113km/h) winds during the storm that peaked on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

"I'd only just brought her home and all sorts went through my head," said Natasha. "I don't know how I'd have got through it without Noodle's. They were amazing."

Volunteers from NCR printed and distributed flyers across the area while thermal binoculars and 4G wildlife cameras were used to try to track Suzie's movements.

The charity said that because of the severe weather, its drone could not be flown above the area where the cocker spaniel had gone missing.

NCR said: "Given Suzie's temperament and the awful weather, we suspected she would hunker down somewhere safe.

"With no sightings for two days, searches continued morning, day and night."

Suzie was eventually spotted on Tuesday in a garden two estates away from Natasha's home.

A resident contacted Natasha after recognising the dog from social media appeals and flyers distributed by volunteers.

Natasha said receiving the call had come as "a huge relief".

"She said 'I think your dog's in my garden', and I was just hoping it was definitely her," said Natasha, who added that she had been "overwhelmed" by the community's support.

"People I didn't even know were messaging me to say they were taking their dogs for walks in the area to look out for her.

"It was lovely knowing there were so many people looking out for her."

NCR said the operation highlighted the limitations of its current drone in severe weather.

The charity said it was fundraising for a more advanced model that can be deployed in stronger winds.

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