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.”
Sad Puppy Is Separated from ‘Mother’ Cow Who Raised Him. Their Reunion Is Nothing Short of Beautiful.
‘Rookie’ cried loudly as if to say: “Please don’t separate us…”
Cue the sentimental music and get your tissues ready because this one is a tear-jerker. It has been proven over and over that animals have personalities, feelings, and emotions, just like humans do. Quite often, animals have more empathy than humans do.
One family noticed that their energetic little dog Rookie had formed a powerful friendship and bond with one of the cows on their farm. The cow was like the puppy’s mother – she would nuzzle him and groom him. He would run around and play with the cow, and he could often be found sitting or sleeping on her back.
The unlikely duo formed a powerful bond. Despite their size and species difference, they considered each other family. They did just about everything together, until one day they were separated. The cow’s owner couldn’t afford to take care of the cow, so he decided to sell her.
Rookie watched as his friend was led out of the barn. He was visibly distraught, and tears welled up in his eyes. He stood in the empty stall and howled miserably. Rookie’s cries are heartbreaking.
Rookie was beside himself with grief. He howled and barked, and you could see the despair in his eyes.
As the cow was led away, she heard little Rookie’s howling and began to moo in response. Rookie listened to the familiar voice and took off running in the direction of the sound. His paws flew down the town’s street in search of his friend. Despite his owner’s call, the only voice Rookie heard was the cow’s.
To Rookie’s joy, he located the cow in a barn across town. In relief and pure joy, Rookie jumped all over the cow and licked her. Unfortunately, Rookie’s owner came and carried him back home. Rookie desperately whined and howled as he was separated from his friend once again.
Separated from his family, Rookie became very depressed and refused to eat. The sorrow on the poor pup’s face is heart-wrenching as he stands in the empty stall where he and his friend had spent so much time together.
With his head down and tail between his legs, Rookie sadly started to walk away. Suddenly, a head appeared in the barn stall’s doorway behind him – it was his cow! The family decided that they would figure out how to afford the cow since Rookie was so attached to her.
When the cow mooed, Rookie’s head whipped around in shock – there stood his friend! He couldn’t contain his excitement and joy. The reunion was so heartwarming. He didn’t want to be separated from the cow that raised him and showed him, love, treated him like her own.
This incredible bond and display of affection between Rookie and his cow are so touching. You must have a heart of stone if this doesn’t move you. A family is a family pure and simple, no matter who you are.
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