Daily Mail

Reunited, owner and

Dog that vanished 6 years ago

- Daily Mail Reporter

After Cheryl McCabe’s beloved dog Mitzy vanished six years ago, the then mother- of- one spent fruitless months searching for her.

despite her best efforts, the patterdale terrier – that she had owned for seven years – was nowhere to be found after being snatched from the family’s garden in Middlesbro­ugh. But two months ago, Miss McCabe got a surprise call from a vets, who told her that Mitzy had been found wandering near the A19 in thirsk, north Yorkshire – 25 miles away.

the elderly terrier was in a very poor condition, with clumps of her fur falling out.

the informatio­n on her microchip revealed she was Miss McCabe’s missing dog, and the vets at Skeldale Veterinary Centre had turned detective to track down the owner.

Miss McCabe, 32, said: ‘I got a voicemail and had to listen to it four times because I couldn’t believe it. I had given up hope – I really thought Mitzy was dead and that we would never see her again. I’d had her since she was five weeks old. She was the perfect dog and I was devastated.’

the mother-of-four added: ‘I wasn’t sure she’d remember me after all this time so I was quite nervous when I went to pick her up.’ however, Miss McCabe’s fears proved to be unfounded. for as soon as she and Mitzy were reunited, the dog – who had been unresponsi­ve to Skeldale staff – wagged her tail for the first time and began joyfully licking her long-lost owner’s face. Miss McCabe believes Mitzy may have spent the last six years on an illegal puppy farm, before being abandoned when she became too old. however, she said that despite Mitzy’s ordeal, her ‘lovely nature is just the same’, adding: ‘It just shows never to give up hope.’

Mitzy’s story features in the Yorkshire Vet on Channel 5 tonight at 8pm.

 ??  ?? Thrilled: Cheryl McCabe and Mitzy
Thrilled: Cheryl McCabe and Mitzy

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