4 days ago
Looking Back: When Ozzy the missing dog was found in a drain
A family expressed their gratitude after a huge social media appeal helped find their beloved pet dog after he had been missing for six days back in 2016.
Christina Richardson and her family were frantic with worry after their pet pooch, a terrier called Ozzy, went missing on Saturday, July 16, 2016.
The family were out walking Ozzy in Cotford St Luke when he disappeared, and they launched an urgent appeal to find him.
Mrs Richardson put a post on Facebook, which was shared more than 500 times as the community rallied round.
Six days later, as the family were almost giving up on finding their pet, a member of the public heard Ozzy barking from a drain underneath the road of the Chapel restaurant.
It is not known how long Ozzy was stuck in the drain, or how he got in there, but the member of the public managed to drag Ozzy away, who was fortunately uninjured following his escapade.
The fire service was also called to help with the effort, but the member of the public managed to haul up a manhole cover to free the pooch before firefighters arrived.
Mrs Richardson was soon reunited with the dog after his rescue, and paid a heartfelt thank you to the person who found him.
The Richardson family were out walking Ozzy in Cotford St Luke when he disappeared, and they launched an urgent appeal to find him She said at the time: "He is certainly a lucky little dog, he was very skinny and grubby when he was found, but we gave him a good bath and he is doing well.
"He had a few grazes to his legs, and his back legs were a bit weak.
"He had to get used to walking again, I think he might have been cramped into a small space for a few days.
"Ozzy is back to his naughty little self now."
Mrs Richardson also thanked those who had helped spread the word on Facebook.
She added: "I created a huge Facebook campaign and asked people to keep an eye out for him.
"I can't believe the power of social media, it was shared more than 500 times."
In the immediate weeks after he was found, Ozzy went from strength to strength, and also received a free offer for a groom and a pamper from Angela Simpson Dog Grooming Services, to restore him to his happy, and clean, self.
