Epileptic teenage girl's support dog who can tell when she is about to have a seizure is missing in the Scottish Highlands
He has been specially trained to support a teenager with epilepsy by alerting her and her family to an impending seizure.
But two-year-old golden retriever Louie has not been seen for a fortnight after managing to slip off his lead during a walk in the Highlands.
An urgent search is now underway to reunite the support dog with 17-year-old Ellie Lynn, in Fort William.
Her mother, Louise Manson, said the family had been out to Steall Falls, in Glen Nevis, on May 26 when Louie gave them the slip and has not been since.
However, the 41-year-old believes the dog is still out there and said: 'We have heard barking and his scent has been picked up by a tracker dog, but other than that there's been very little.
'But it does give us hope that he's still alive.
'They are amazing dogs.
'I would hate to think he's out there hurt and we can't get to him.'
The family have camped in the area and had barbecues in the hope of luring Louie back to them while local groups and walking visitors have also kept an eye out for him having seen social media posts about the missing dog.
There are even wildlife cameras set up to see if he can be traced.
Ms Manson said Louie and her daughter bonded from the very first time they met.
She added: 'Louie picked Ellie, he stuck with her our whole visit.
'He's amazing, so bubbly and friendly.
'If Ellie is building up to a seizure he can somehow sense it and alerts us so we know what we're looking for and know if its going to develop.
'Even when Ellie is unwell he doesn't leave her side, he can sense when something is wrong with her.
'If anyone is ill, he lies with his head on our chests.
'He's Ellie's main support, like a security blanket.'
The teenager told the BBC: 'Louie's really important because he helps me with my epilepsy.
'He doesn't really bark but he tries to make people notice something's wrong and takes them to where I am.
'Then he comes and lies on my chest or stomach.
'He's very friendly, happy and cuddly. He sits on your knee and everything. He doesn't really leave you alone.
'I miss him a lot. It's weird without him around the house.'
Louie has a green collar with a small bow tie and is friendly to approach.
Ms Manson said he could be on any of the routes from the waterfall and added: 'Please get in touch if you see him.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
First picture of sicko Scots mum jailed for helping to run horrific global monkey torture network
A SADISTIC Scots mum jailed for helping to run a horrific global monkey torture network can today be unmasked. Natalie Herron, 39, and fellow sickos paid for thugs to inflict agonising deaths on baby macaques. 2 Neighbours told of their revulsion at learning how the mum, 39, shared sickening videos of tiny monkeys being crucified, dipped in boiling oil and hacked with machetes. We told how the monster, who also ran online votes on the animals' agonising death methods, was jailed for 27 months this week after admitting hoarding and sharing the harrowing footage. But a source in her home town of Airdrie told The Scottish Sun: 'Natalie can never show her face here again. It won't end well for her if she does. 'She has always been one for the watching. But nobody could have imagined she could do anything so twisted. It's all that anyone here is talking about. 'She's a marked woman for what she did to those poor babies.' We can also reveal fresh details of the disgusting messages Herron sent online to other sadists. She spoke with undisguised glee about seeing the defenceless creatures having their faces melted with a blowtorch, being chopped up in a food blender and even having their private parts cut off. The brute also said it was 'awesome' to watch a clip of a terrified macaque being wrapped up into a ball with cellotape. Herron was caught after US cops took down the group's ringleader Michael McCartney, 51 — who called himself 'The Torture King'. They paid for henchmen in Indonesia to steal young long-tailed macaques from their mothers then film their barbaric deaths. Inside monkey torture ring where fiends pay for animals to be put in blenders for sexual kicks Scots cops raided Herron's four-in-a-block flat in 2022 and found a phone with 1,084 pics and videos. Officers also found 4,000 warped WhatsApp messages she sent. In one, she moaned the screams of a dying monkey were 'making my ears bleed'. Another said: 'I am shocked how easily the drill went through the skull, it was like butter.' Herron discussed her preferences with other sickos, saying: 'Trying to find a video where they will kill the mum and the babies watch. 'Torch its whole face off until it's just skull and melting skin haha. 'Or watch them be blitzed in blenders and scalped, d**ks cut off, set alight. If only my family and friends knew they'd never look at me the same again lol.' The fiend also organised a poll on what the group wanted to see next. One suggested option was for a baby monkey to be sealed in a jar filled with biting fire ants. Herron later gleefully told the others: 'We finally got our ants in a jar. Phenomenal!'' Neighbours told of their disgust at the fiend, who they used to see walking a pet dog. At Herron's front door is an ornament of a squashed hedgehog with tyre tracks on its back. One local said: 'Natalie was a weirdo. She wouldn't give you the time of day if she saw you outside. Most just thought she was rude. 'But many are now glad they never got to know her. 'The shame should follow her forever. She's a vile pig.' A nearby shopkeeper claimed Herron's family will be distraught over the shocking revelations. He said: 'Her parents are lovely people. Her dad was a nice guy and her mum worked for the NHS. Natalie was always a pain. But I don't understand what she'd get from all this. Her poor parents will be so ashamed.' Our unmasking of Herron was backed by Sarah Kite, co-founder of Action for Primates. She said: 'Her depravity in paying for and watching the sadistic and gratuitous torture and killing of baby monkeys is horrifying. 'It is in the public interest for people to know who she is.'' Nina Jackel, of animal rights group Lady Freethinker, added: 'Those who participate in these crimes must be held accountable to help deter future offenders.' A BBC probe previously revealed the evil network. Last November Holly Le Gresley, 37, was caged for two years and Adriana Orme, 56, for 15 months in Worcester after they admitted causing unnecessary suffering to animals. Macartney was jailed for more than three years last October in Virginia, US.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Tributes to a couple who died of 'carbon monoxide poisoning' while camping at their favourite place
The devastated parents of a couple who are believed to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning while camping have paid emotional tributes to the pair. Adele Tait, 47, and her partner Craig Will, 55, pitched their tent on the shores of Loch Awe in Argyll. Relatives grew concerned they had not heard from the couple and called the police to investigate. Officers made the tragic discovery last Saturday and have since said they are not treating the deaths as suspicious. It is understood the couple died from carbon monoxide poisoning from a camping stove. Their families have been left shattered by the news and Ms Tait's mother Anne said she was 'in pieces' at the deaths. She wrote on social media: 'I am devastated to be writing this, my eldest daughter Adele and her partner Craig have sadly passed away. 'The family are heartbroken at this time. You are my firstborn and the one that made me a mum. 'I am in pieces. Another part of my heart is in heaven.' In another emotional statement, she said you 'don't realise how much you miss the texts and messages at 6am until the person is no longer here'. Meanwhile, Mr Will's mother Sandra revealed her devastation at the loss. Paying tribute, she said: 'Craig and Adele you were our favourite 'hello' and our hardest 'goodbye'. 'In remembrance of your strength and resilience, your love for one another remains our greatest treasure. 'Our son had an incredible impact in his short time here. Though we part ways with tears, in our hearts you'll forever stay. Rest in peace dear Craig and Adele.' Other tributes have come in from those who knew the couple. One of Ms Tait's close friends said: 'Thank you for always being an amazing friend, always honest and caring.' Mr Will previously served in the Gordon Highlanders regiment, as well as the 1st Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The couple are believed to have been living together in a cottage in the West Lothian village of Longridge. George McLaren, who described Mr Will and Ms Tait as his 'true friends', said they had died while on a camping trip in their 'favourite place' of the shores of Loch Awe. He added: 'I will miss them both more than they will ever know. 'My deepest heartfelt condolences go out to both families.' Other family members spoke of their shock at the deaths, and one said: 'I thank the universe every day for blessing us with someone like you Craig. 'We also lost his loving partner Adele, too. It brings us comfort knowing they're together in peace somewhere. 'We can see how much Craig and Adele were loved.' Others also told of how much they would miss the well-loved couple, and offered to help their grieving families in their time of need. A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'Around 4.25pm on June 7, a man and woman were found deceased within a tent on the east side of Loch Awe, Dalmally, Argyll and Bute. 'Their deaths are not being treated as suspicious. A report was submitted to the procurator fiscal.' Carbon monoxide is deadly but odourless, making it difficult to detect. Campers are warned never to take a gas stove, lantern or heater into a tent because of the dangers they can pose. Loch Awe is a popular destination for campers as it is Scotland's longest freshwater loch. Reports said the couple had not been in contact with loved ones since May 31. They were found in their tent the day after police received reports that they were missing, with officers alerted to concerns as to their welfare on June 6.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Honours for Linda Norgrove's parents after years fighting for rights of women in daughter's name
Their lives were shattered 15 years ago when their kidnapped daughter was killed in Afghanistan during a rescue attempt by US forces. Heartbreakingly, John and Lorna Norgrove later learned it was an American grenade that killed their aid worker daughter Linda. Now the couple, who channelled their grief into a charity in her memory, have both been made OBEs in the King's Birthday Honours. Based on the Isle of Lewis, the Norgroves said their daughter would have been 'delighted' they were carrying on her work – and dedicated their new honour to women in Afghanistan. Linda, who grew up on Lewis, was kidnapped by the Taliban while doing aid work in September 2010. The following month a US special ops rescue mission was launched but the 34-year-old was fatally wounded by one of their grenades, dying shortly after her extraction. In her memory, her parents set up the Linda Norgrove Foundation which gives grants to fund education, health and childcare for women and children in Afghanistan. The couple said: 'We are a tiny charity, mostly volunteers, who all share the same goal – to make life better for women and children in Afghanistan. 'Having put a lot of effort into sponsoring women to study medicine in Afghanistan, we were heartbroken when the Taliban stopped them from attending university. We were privileged to have the chance to bring some of them here to Scotland last year to continue their studies. 'We dedicate this honour to all those brave women who remain in Afghanistan, or who have made the decision to move abroad and continue their studies. Their struggle continues and they are the real heroes of this story.' The Norgroves were among a slew of Scots recognised in the honours list for making a difference in their field of endeavour. Labour politician Pamela Duncan Glancy, the first wheelchair user elected to the Scottish parliament, becomes an MBE, while social media influencer Zahrah Mahmood, 34 – known as the Hillwalking Hijabi – was recognised with the same honour. Glaswegian mother-of-two Ms Mahmood, president of Ramblers Scotland, said: 'I'm still taking it in. I'm grateful, and I hope I can continue using whatever platform this brings to keep doing the work which matters to me and so many others.' Historian Alistair Moffat, who founded the Borders Book Festival, also becomes an MBE, for services to literature and culture. He has written more than 40 books on Scottish history. This year's Borders Book Festival starts on Thursday. Charles Pelling, manager of Edinburgh's Lady Haig Poppy Factory, was honoured with an OBE in recognition of services to veterans. Meanwhile, Debbie Crosbie – boss of building society Nationwide – paid tribute to her Glaswegian upbringing after receiving a damehood. She said: 'Most of my peer group have come from a much higher social demographic and they tended to be educated in either Oxford or Cambridge. 'I am actually hugely proud. I grew up in Glasgow, I wasn't different to any of my peer group, so to be given the opportunity to lead... I've had a massively rewarding career.' Ms Crosbie's fellow Glaswegian, Greggs chief executive Roisin Currie, is also among the business leaders honoured this year with a CBE.
