Centre in appeal for volunteers

MID-LIN Day Centre i s looking for volunteers for their Help at Home Service.

Volunteers would be supporting i ndividuals over the age of 55 who have just returned home following a hospital stay.

The service also supports older people who are at risk of a hospital admission.

Each service user has a care plan that has clear goals they would like to achieve.

This could involve going to a local group, running some errands or being able to use public transport.

The support provided by the charity is short-term and is aimed at building confidence and independence.

The Linlathen-based charity is looking for those who are outgoing and wish t o develop their skills within the care sector who can spare a few hours each week.

For more information on volunteering, contact MidLin Help at Home Service 01382 506451. THE family of a young C h i hua hua h ad some o f Ta y s i d e ’s finest firefighters to thank for saving their pet pooch from marshland.

Six-year-old Alfie, from Longforgan, had been out for walkies with a professional dog walker at Ballo Woods, near Coupar Angus, when he made a very bold bid for freedom.

He was last spotted bounding happily off across the fields, but when it was time to head for home Alfie ignored all attempts to heel.

Alfie’s owner Rebecca McCallum had been spending Tuesday in Edinburgh with her six-week-old baby Phillip and friends, while her husband, Phillip sr, was working abroad.

In a bid to help out her young family, Rebecca has been using a dog walker to make sure Alfie gets some much-needed exercise.

She said: “The dog walker took him out to the woods while I was away but during the afternoon I got a frantic phone call to say Alfie had taken off and the walker couldn’t find him.

“The walker put the other dogs in the van while she went looking for Alfie but because of the heat on Tuesday she couldn’t leave them in the van for very long and eventually had to give up the search.”

Rebecca put out a desperate call on social media and within hours dozens of people had responded and went out looking for her pet pooch.

Alfie wasn’t found and the search continued into the evening.

Among those helping out were Rebecca’s mother and father-inlaw Phillip, as well as Ann McCallum, from Linlathen.

Phillip, 58, said: “By about 9pm, I was still out looking when I thought I heard a faint barking.

“I sat and listened and was pretty convinced it was Alfie.

“I set off in the direction of the barking and sure enough I spotted him. However, it was in the area of the marshes, which is pretty boggy and wet.

“It was obvious he was stuck and it was also obvious I wasn’t going to be able to get to him.”

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was called and came to the rescue, sending two fire engines along with two water rescue boats.

Between them they managed to pull Alfie to safety and return him to the arms of his anxious family.

Rebecca sad: “It was awful, I was in a total panic.

“I really thought Alfie would never come home again. I am so very grateful to everyone who turned up to help look for him and also to the fire brigade.”