Shock return of Supermario
A Cairn terrier named Mario has been found alive and well after surviving in the wild for more than two weeks on his own.
The 18-month-old dog was enjoying a walk near Kings Cave in Blackwaterfoot with his owner, Ruth Betley, when he chased after something and did not return. Not too concerned, Ruth continued home expecting Mario to make his way back as he had done on previous occasions.
By later that evening, Mario had not returned and Ruth and her daughter Abby went back out to look for him but without any joy.
For two weeks, Ruth covered the same route night and day and made desperate appeals on social media in the hope he would be found.
Remarkably, 15 days after he went missing, Mario popped out of a cave at Ruth’s side – looking skinny, hungry and dirty but none the worse for his ordeal.
Ruth takes up the story. ‘He literally ran up behind me. There were tears of joy, I can tell you. I didn’t have a lead with me as I really had given up hope of ever seeing him again so was worried about how I would get him back home but he just ran alongside me all the way back home no bother. Abby was ecstatic when she saw him. A very happy wee girl reunited with her beloved dog. I have now idea how he has survived for 15 days and if anyone has helped feed him or seen him, we are very grateful.’
Now back home in Shiskine, Ruth says her family is complete again and she thanked all those who had helped look for Mario – both on the ground and on social media. ‘We now call him Supermario,’ she joked.