Two beloved pet dogs that vanished while they were out for a walk in the hills are safe at home thanks to the smell of grilled sausages.
Miniature schnauzers Charlie and Theo were missing for four days after disappearing in thick fog on the Red Pike fell near Buttermere, Cumbria.
Distraught owners Liz and Graham Hampson launched a rescue campaign and sought help from mountain rescue teams, family and friends.
There was no sign of the dogs as more than 120 people and two drones scoured the hills, so Liz and Graham decided to try to lure them with their favourite bangers.
They set up a barbecue near the spot where Charlie and Theo, who are father and son, vanished and shouted the dogs’ names.
To their amazement, a short time later the dogs appeared through the trees, leading to an emotional reunion.
Liz, 49, from nearby Cockermouth, said: “When they first appeared it was like a mirage. I could not believe it was them.
“My husband ran up the hill to grab them as I was just shaking and crying. I could not function.
“The dogs are just gorgeous, and they are part of our family. It would be horrible not to have them around.
“They absolutely love sausages. They have them every Sunday for breakfast, so if there was one food they were going to come back for, it was sausages.”
Liz and Graham’s son John was walking Charlie, aged seven, and Theo, aged 15 months, on top Red Pike fell on June 16.
The weather turned at lunchtime and a thick mist rolled in, causing the 21-year-old to lose sight of the dogs.
He rang his mum straight away to let her know what had happened, and they immediately started to form a rescue party.
Liz said: “I was beside myself when John called. The dogs walk off lead when there is no livestock around and are used to being on the fells.
“It was a horrible phone call. We called our family and messaged friends and put out an appeal for people to look out for them on Facebook and Twitter.
“I also have a few friends who are part of mountain rescue groups so I asked if they could keep their eyes peeled if they were called out to a rescue.”
Liz and Graham spent the first night camping on the fell and calling the dogs’ names trying to get them to come back.
They then spent the next few days over Father’s Day weekend hiking all around the area in hot weather trying to find them.
On the morning of June 19, Mark Steel, a GP and member of Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team, said the dogs were likely on the other side of the fell, near Gillerthwaite.
Together they hatched a plan to get the dogs back, and started barbecuing sausages.
Liz said: “It was great to see them appear through the trees.”
“They were thin, and they smelled, but thankfully they’d kept themselves hydrated in the heat.
“We took them to the vets the next day and they were given a clean bill of health.”
She added: “My son is in the navy and we rang him first to tell him. A huge cheer went up on his ship.
“Charlie and Theo are actually dad and son so we’re now joking they had a Father’s Day weekend.
“And they’ve told us nothing about what happened. I guess what goes on tour, stays on tour.”
“Unwavering Loyalty: The Heartwarming Tale of Puppies Mourning Their Mother on the Railroad Tracks”
Near an abandoned railway, a group of unfortunate puppies managed to survive and make a modest living. One of the puppies stood out as exceptional, displaying unwavering loyalty to its mother. Sadly, the mother, an elderly dog, met a heart-wrenching fate after being struck by a passing train on the very railway track they called home.
Every day, this devoted puppy would come back to the railway, tirelessly searching the area for its mother. Unaware of her untimely demise and unable to comprehend her absence, the pup would discover a dry leaf, hop onto it, and with tender touches, lick away its own tears, as if silently imploring its mother to come back. This heart-wrenching routine persisted for several days until destiny intervened. A young girl stumbled upon the railway and bore witness to this poignant scene. Moved by an overwhelming surge of empathy, she felt an irresistible urge to assist these vulnerable puppies
She showed kindness by carrying a basket filled with cookies and drinks, and even extended it to the unique puppy. The one-of-a-kind puppy eagerly hopped onto the basket and enjoyed the provided nourishment. However, an underlying feeling of longing lingered as it repeatedly returned to the railway, settling on the dry leaf, seemingly forever in quest of its lost mother.
The touching story deeply moved the young woman, causing tears to well up in her eyes. Touched by the puppy’s heart-wrenching situation, she made a heartfelt decision. She would take this special pup under her wing, providing it with the warmth, shelter, and nurturing it so desperately required. From that point on, the unique pup found a new refuge, a fresh family, and a renewed opportunity for happiness. This story serves as a poignant reminder that love and care possess an extraordinary transformative power, capable of guiding us through even the most challenging of circumstances and illuminating our path with hope and resilience.
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