Two beloved pet dogs that vanished while they were out for a walk in the hills are safe at home thanks to the smell of grilled sausages.
Miniature schnauzers Charlie and Theo were missing for four days after disappearing in thick fog on the Red Pike fell near Buttermere, Cumbria.
Distraught owners Liz and Graham Hampson launched a rescue campaign and sought help from mountain rescue teams, family and friends.
There was no sign of the dogs as more than 120 people and two drones scoured the hills, so Liz and Graham decided to try to lure them with their favourite bangers.
They set up a barbecue near the spot where Charlie and Theo, who are father and son, vanished and shouted the dogs’ names.
To their amazement, a short time later the dogs appeared through the trees, leading to an emotional reunion.
Liz, 49, from nearby Cockermouth, said: “When they first appeared it was like a mirage. I could not believe it was them.
“My husband ran up the hill to grab them as I was just shaking and crying. I could not function.
“The dogs are just gorgeous, and they are part of our family. It would be horrible not to have them around.
“They absolutely love sausages. They have them every Sunday for breakfast, so if there was one food they were going to come back for, it was sausages.”
Liz and Graham’s son John was walking Charlie, aged seven, and Theo, aged 15 months, on top Red Pike fell on June 16.
The weather turned at lunchtime and a thick mist rolled in, causing the 21-year-old to lose sight of the dogs.
He rang his mum straight away to let her know what had happened, and they immediately started to form a rescue party.
Liz said: “I was beside myself when John called. The dogs walk off lead when there is no livestock around and are used to being on the fells.
“It was a horrible phone call. We called our family and messaged friends and put out an appeal for people to look out for them on Facebook and Twitter.
“I also have a few friends who are part of mountain rescue groups so I asked if they could keep their eyes peeled if they were called out to a rescue.”
Liz and Graham spent the first night camping on the fell and calling the dogs’ names trying to get them to come back.
They then spent the next few days over Father’s Day weekend hiking all around the area in hot weather trying to find them.
On the morning of June 19, Mark Steel, a GP and member of Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team, said the dogs were likely on the other side of the fell, near Gillerthwaite.
Together they hatched a plan to get the dogs back, and started barbecuing sausages.
Liz said: “It was great to see them appear through the trees.”
“They were thin, and they smelled, but thankfully they’d kept themselves hydrated in the heat.
“We took them to the vets the next day and they were given a clean bill of health.”
She added: “My son is in the navy and we rang him first to tell him. A huge cheer went up on his ship.
“Charlie and Theo are actually dad and son so we’re now joking they had a Father’s Day weekend.
“And they’ve told us nothing about what happened. I guess what goes on tour, stays on tour.”
“Heartbreaking: Mother Dog with Broken Leg Clings to Her Puppies, Desperately Longing for Compassion and Relief”
“Frida’s Journey of Redemption: From Tragedy to Triumph for a Devoted Mother and Her Nine Puppies”
Frida, a devoted mama dog, embarked on a perilous journey in search of food, only to meet with a tragic car accident. The impact left her front leg broken, causing excruciating pain.
However, Frida’s plight was magnified by the fact that she was not alone—she was caring for nine delicate puppies, merely ten days old, who were battling their own battle against weakness and malnourishment, plagued by anemia.
Faced with such dire circumstances, Frida’s owner attempted to alleviate her suffering by using plants to splint her broken leg. But his efforts proved insufficient, leaving Frida in prolonged agony.
Adding to her misery, a thick rope was tightly bound around her neck, a cruel tether used by her owner to confine her, all while concealing his cruel actions from the watchful eyes of the villagers. Perhaps it was shame that drove him to hide his disgraceful treatment of the faithful creature.
However, as fate would have it, a glimmer of hope emerged for Frida and her nine precious puppies. A group of compassionate rescuers arrived on the scene, extending a helping h and and a caring heart.
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With utmost urgency, they whisked Frida and her offspring away to a veterinary clinic, where their remarkable journey of healing and transformation would begin.
Day after day, under the devoted care of the veterinary team, Frida and her puppies experienced a remarkable turnaround. Their once feeble bodies grew stronger, and their health steadily improved.
The veterinary professionals kept a watchful eye on them, ensuring they received the necessary medical attention and nurturing support.
Gradually, Frida’s broken leg mended, her pain subsiding with each passing day. Liberated from the tight grip of the restraining rope, she regained her freedom and the ability to explore the world around her once more.
As for the puppies, their once listless bodies brimmed with newfound energy and boundless happiness.
Together, Frida and her nine puppies embarked on a journey of redemption and new beginnings. Their hearts, once burdened by hardship and suffering, now overflowed with love and hope.
The resilience displayed by Frida and her offspring was a testament to the indomitable spirit of animals and the transformative power of compassion.
Now, as Frida and her puppies embrace their brighter future, their story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy and the capacity for redemption.
Their tale stands as a beacon of hope, inspiring us all to stand against cruelty and to extend a helping hand to those in need. Through the darkest of times, love and compassion have the power to heal and restore, allowing even the most broken souls to find solace and joy once again.
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