Dog hunt hero saves pal stuck in a fox hole
AMISSING dog who sparked a threeday search and £500 reward managed to find her way home – then led owners to her pal who was trapped down a hole.
Terriers Kolo and Flo disappeared from a field near their home at Reddish Vale Farm on Wednesday.
Owner Simon Dillon, who runs the farm, said at first he thought the pair had wandered off, but as the days went by there was still no sign and they began to worry.
Dozens of people joined a search for the animals, with more than 10,000 people sharing the appeal on Facebook.
There was even a £500 reward for their return but to no avail – three-yearold Kolo and Flo, eight, were nowhere to be found.
But then, on Saturday morning, Simon, 58, was stunned to see Kolo casually walking up the lane into the yard they were working in.
She was skinny and dehydrated and covered in dirt, so they took her to a vet to be checked over.
Later that day, after being given some fluids and the OK by the vet, Simon and son Ben, 30, returned with Kolo to the field she and Flo went missing in.
“At that point anything was worth a try,” said Simon.
“We thought she may be able to show us where they went and help us find Flo.
“Off she wandered and we followed her for about a quarter of a mile and then we came to this fox hole.
“Kolo suddenly started barking. The hole was about 12 inches across and she was trying to get back down it - so much so we had to restrain her.
“There were no noises coming from inside, but Kolo was adamant there was something down there so we started digging.
“We dug with our spades for about two hours to around six feet down, then we saw Flo in the hole, stuck behind a rock that had fallen and trapped her.
“The poor thing was very worse for wear – her paws were bleeding from where she had been trying to escape.”
Simon said when he and Ben arrived back at the yard with the dogs, all the girls burst into tears.
He added: “I don’t think we ever would’ve found her without Kolo. We’d have been wandering those fields forever.
“Everyone on the farm is so happy to have them both back!”
Reddish Vale Farm posted the news of the return on Facebook: “Finally reunited with both of our special girls. Kolo is now awarded the £500 reward money. Thank you so much for all the shares and kind comments we really are feeling the love.”