Sadness as missing dog passes away
A missing dog who ran away after being spooked by a gunshot in Perthshire, sparking a massive search effort, has sadly passed away.
Australian shepherd Eddie’s devastated family announced on Saturday that the search had been called off, after his body was discovered by a fisherman.
Eddie, from Glasgow, had been taken on a walk by Rumbling Bridge near The Hermitage, Dunkeld on Saturday, October 26 last year, when he bolted off after being frightened by gunfire noise nearby.
A large-scale search was then launched to find him, with more than 18,000 people signed up to a Facebook page named ‘Help Find Eddie’.
Thousands joined the frantic search to bring missing Eddie home for
Christmas, with some volunteers using drones, thermal scopes and sniffer dogs to help track him.
A number of organisations were also involved in the search, including the police, Forestry Commission and the National Trust, with hopes the beloved pooch would be home before Christmas.
However, a heartbreaking Facebook post on the ‘Help Find Eddie’ page on Saturday announced the tragic news.
It read: “It is with a very heavy heart that I tell you that Eddie’s body has been found by a fisherman today.
“We were kindly alerted by a local gillie, Andy, who has also retrieved Eddie’s body for us so we can bring him home.
“We are heartbroken and I’m afraid lost for words.
“I would like to thank each and everyone of you for your kind words, support, shares and participation in the search for our much loved boy.
“You may not be with us anymore but your beautiful spirit runs free, forever in our hearts.”
Another follow-up post added: “From volunteers, well wishers, drone pilots, Forestry Commission, National Trust, local estates, the BBC wildlife camera people, other lost and stolen pet groups, vets, groomers, rescues - the list is endless - and we are very overwhelmed by the amount of people that have stood by us and never gave up on us.
“Eddie has brought so many beautiful and kind hearts together and we hope and pray when they are ready they will take some comfort in reading his page and know he was so loved by each and every one of you.
“Eddie, our Dunkeld boy, you were so loved and so brave.
“Rainbow bridge has gained another beautiful soul, seven years of being so loved by the most wonderful family.”
Thousands of mourners left their sympathies with the family on the page.