Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PET ’TECS IN HUNT FOR HENRY
Dog trainer turned pet detective Rachel Rodgers was out playing hide and seek with her pet Rico when their trailing training was interrupted by shouts for a lost dog.
She could hear panicked cries of “Henry!” while out with Becky Smith of Pet Trailer UK at Erddig National Trust park near Wrexham.
It was the Jones family looking for their recently adopted Tibetan terrier who had run off on his walk around Erddig three hours earlier.
Even though the family had already contacted Missing Dogs Team Wales, they hadn’t had his microchip details updated. Rachel’s dog Rico, age six, was pressed into his first missing dog case.
Having got the scent of Henry from the boot of the family’s car, Rico and Rachel began a hunt that took them across a river and over walls as Rico tried to get a scent. “He took us through undergrowth and then we were stopped by a 6ft metal fence. No way under, over or round,” says Rachel. Rico tried other routes, but with no luck as the evening started to draw in. “I knew Rico was on to something, but we just couldn’t find a point to rejoin the trail,” says Rachel.
But there was a happy ending. Hours later, the Jones family had one more look and found Henry in the spot where Rico had taken them earlier.
They contacted Rachel on Facebook @Nosetotrailpetservices saying: “Thank you so much for today. We found Henry exactly where Rico was taking us. He was spot on.”
Rachel has since shared the story online, urging owners to get a decent scent article for their pets by following @ Pettraileruk’s step-by-step guide.
Rachel says: “If Rico is going to help find your missing pet he needs something to work from.” ■ Contact info@nosetotrail.co.uk or call 07506 059019 for details.