Boy reunited with ‘ best pal’ after community effort
ASCHOOLBOY has been reunited with his “best pal” after the community helped him find his missing dog. Six- year- old Zach Muirhead was left distraught along with his parents Sharon, 42, and Craig, 42, after their adorable beagle went missing.
The family, from Paisley, feared the worst after Rocky vanished for nine days after getting spooked before a walk at their home on Monday, December 2.
They desperately searched for the two- year- old pet as he was stranded in the “horrible weather” including heavy rain and wind.
Friends and strangers also pitched in with the efforts and set up traps in local spots before he was finally found on Wednesday, December 11.
Now they are thanking the community, saying they are beyond grateful for the monumental effort.
Sharon told the Glasgow Times: “We got him back today, Zach is so happy to have him home.
“He is only six and had been asking for a dog for so long, we got Rocky in October then days after Zach’s birthday he went missing.
“Since we haven’t had him for long we were worried he wouldn’t recognise us, but he did immediately which was so nice, he came home and ran right to his bed and snuggled up.
“Zach went to school very happy knowing his dog was home.
“So many people got involved to help, it meant the world to us, we couldn’t have done it without everyone. I really want to thank them for giving us the time.
“It’s been a monumental effort.”
Craig said: “My wife and I were distraught and Zach has been missing his best pal.”
S h a - ron worried “everything was against them” as they searched for the dog in terrible wet weather and as he avoided the traps at first.
The family refused to give up and were desperate to be reunited with Rocky, who is believed to have been living off scraps and sleeping in a small hole he dug for shelter.
S h a r o n said: “It was hard not being able to promise Zach that we would bring his dog home. “We had lots of sightings including a river and at motorways which was scary. I was absolutely beside myself because he was having to cross multiple busy roads. “Lost Pets Renfrewshire got in touch and suggested we put a cou ple traps down, then loads of people in the community were keeping an eye on them for us.
“The weather was so bad, we were getting fewer sightings, and at first he wasn’t going into the traps so it felt like everything was against us, but we didn’t want to give up.
“We put food at the back of the cage which is spring operated so when Rocky finally stood on it, the door shut behind him and we got him.
“The amount of time and energy people have given us has been amazing, we really appreciate it.”