The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Lost terrier safe again after sea cliff plunge alert
Campaign: Huge online response after Coastguard rescue operation
A missing dog was found following a two-day search amid fears it had plunged off a sea cliff. Pepsi, a black Patterdale terrier, pictured, had slipped the lead while out with a dog walking service, sparking a Coastguard operation. Last night its owner said she was overwhelmed by the hundreds of people who had helped find the pet.
A missing dog has been found following a two-day search after it was feared it had plunged off a cliff.
Pepsi, a black Patterdale Terrier, slipped off its lead while out with a Portlethen dog walking service on Monday.
It sparked a Coastguard rescue operation, which also involved Aberdeen inshore lifeboat.
Scores of people also took to the streets and an online campaign, Help Find Pepsi, was launched.
Owners Claire and Simon Muir, from Aberdeen, had feared the worst but yesterday Mrs Muir’s mother and father found the plucky pooch while searching the area in their car yesterday afternoon.
And apart from a slight limp in its left paw, the four-year-old appeared to be unscathed.
Last night Mrs Muir said she had been “overwhelmed” by the reaction of the public.
She said: “My mum and dad phoned in tears when they found her, we had been following up a sighting earlier that day when they called.
“We were close to a vet so we were able to take her there to get checked over. She was bouncing around all over the place and lapping up the treats as if nothing had happened.
“It’s been absolutely overwhelming, just over such a short period of time. I couldn’t believe how much it spread.”
More than 50 people volunteered to help the family find the beloved pet, while there were a number of reported sightings throughout yesterday.
“Bouncing around all over the place and lapping up the treats”
A couple from Dyce also volunteered to use their drone to try and find the animal.
And 760 people also joined the Facebook campaign to help trace the pet.
Mrs Muir added: “Everyone got on board with it whether they knew us or not and whether they were dog lovers or not.
“People in Portlethen couldn’t do enough to help us. It’s been such a great example of community spirit. It’s not even our community but they brought us in like one of their own which makes it even nicer.”
Most owners would have feared the worst after their dog appeared to fall off a cliff while out for a walk.
But hope springs eternal, as they say, and the owners have now been reunited with Pepsi, a black Patterdale Terrier.
A huge sigh of relief for them, but Pepsi probably just wanted a long drink.