Sparky’s dramatic rescue is a fur-raising tale
IT was a fur-raising ordeal which would have had Scooby Doo shaking with fear, writes Kenny Paterson.
Lindean pet, Sparky, is recovering well at home after surviving 16 days on his own in the Grey Mare’s Tail Nature Reserve.
The curious canine ran off while walking with owner Steve McLachlan at the iconic Dumfriesshire waterfall on October 15 and despite searches and a poster appeal for information, the family had resigned themselves to never seeing their pet again.
However, he was reunited with his owners on November 1 after being spotted and subsequently rescued from a ledge alongside the UK’s fifth highest waterfall.
Steve told The Wee Paper: “I really don’t know what he was doing for the 16 days. He was on the opposite side of the waterfall from where we last saw him, so whether he was wandering around or then got stuck on the ledge, I’m not sure. The problem is, you cannot ask him.”
Explaining how he lost Sparky, Steve explains: “Sparky chased after some goats as I handed the lead to my wife, pulling me off my feet.
“Then he disappeared and we didn’t see him again for 16 days.
“We returned in the days after Sparky went missing but saw no sign of him.
“But then on November 1 someone rang saying they heard a dog and had seen him on a ledge at the side of the waterfall. They said he had a red collar which made it pretty clear that it was him.”
The location of the Collie cross at the bottom of the waterfall meant Moffat Mountain Rescue Team were called out.
Steve added: “Moffat Mountain Rescue Team could not have done more – they really knew what they were doing.
“We got him to the vets and his weight had fallen from 18kgs to 12kgs and he was understandably weak. But apart from that he seemed fine.
“I don’t think we will be going back to the Grey Mare’s Tail soon but if we do I will make sure I keep a close eye on him.”
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Weather for Selkirk
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 3 C to 12 C
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