Owner heartbroken as dog swept into Tay
A wee dog is still missing after being swept into the River Tay at Dunkeld on Sunday.
Tilly the Border Terrier lost her footing and was swept away from her horrified owner, who was standing on the bank on the Birnam side of the Dunkeld Bridge over the River Tay at 5.45pm on Sunday, February 23.
Rescue volunteers tried to locate the six-year old pet on Sunday night using thermal imaging equipment, but this had to stop in the darkness as the river was still very treacherous.
Yesterday searching resumed, with volunteers and gillies searching stretches of the river bank.
“We’re hoping and preying by some miracle she managed to get out,” posted a close relative of the dog’s owner.
Missing Pets Perth and Kinross Facebook page circulated the alert to try and find the missing dog: “Tilly was standing near the river by the main bridge going into Dunkeld (Birnam side) when she lost her footing and fell into the water and was swept away.
“Her mum followed Tilly as far as she could before she lost sight of her.
“Tilly is six-years-old, is chipped and was wearing a collar with ID tag. Tilly’s mum is heartbroken by what’s happened.”
As the dog has disappeared in fast flowing water, if anyone spots something in the river they are advised not to attempt to go in or reach it without suitable training or safety equipment. Instead they should contact Katie McCandless immediately on 07432368792 so she can ask for suitable help.
It is exactly a year ago since yellow lab Rossi met a similar fate at the Hermitage nearby and has not been seen since. The dog, a six-month-old puppy at the time, fell in the river and was swept out of sight.