Clever Jack Russell Reunited with his owners
Monday, 18 April 2011 11:07
Schoolgirl Annika Schlemm and her family were devastated when they lost their Parson Jack Russell, Charlie, whilst out for a walk in the countryside of East Sussex.
The family searched for four days and put up many posters in the area. Despite plenty of leads, there was no sign of Charlie.
When they thought they had tried everything they could to be reunited with their beloved pet, Annika's mother, Marie-Louise, came up with a brilliant idea. Charlie had been seen on a part of the South Downs called Ditchling Beacon - about four miles from where he disappeared. Marie-Louise said that Annika should try walking barefoot at Ditchling Beacon in case Charlie picked up her scent.
“We went back to Ditchling and I walked around the streets barefoot,” said Annika. “I walked along the road barefoot for about 100 yards and then had a break in the car, then I walked back on the road and footpaths.”
It was a slow and painful process, and with every step she took, Annika hoped she would catch a glimpse of Charlie, but as each hour passed, there was still no sign of him.
“Annoyingly I stepped in some nettles and one of my ankles really hurt, so at times I would hobble and limp down this country lane, probably looking extremely odd,” she said. Annika got some very strange looks from drivers and pedestrians when she walked barefoot across a roundabout covered in prickly bushes.
“The thought that this was for Charlie and that this could finally get him home kept me going,” she said.
The next day, wearing a pair of socks for protection this time, Annika continued her search, but there was still no sign of him.
“That evening the first really hopeful calls started,” she said. “Some people claimed to have seen Charlie in our town. So for the last time I hunted for my dog for an hour or so, walking and calling out his name. Sadly, I walked home with no result."
“The next morning, a week after he went missing, I woke up before my alarm and an impossible miracle happened. My dad opened the door and in tiptoed Charlie, with his tail wagging. He had got in through the cat flap. I gave him lots of cuddles and I must confess tears were in my eyes. I was just so happy."
“We haven’t lived in our house very long so I’m sure he wouldn’t have known the way home unless he had followed the scent trail."
“We gave him a big bowl of food and we’re just glad to have him home. What an amazing dog!”
Annika, along with her 16-year-old sister Marieke, mother Marie-Louise and father Carsten, 44, is keeping a very close eye on Charlie who they saved from a pet rescue centre six years ago. All of us here at Animal Friends Pet Insurance thinks Charlie is a real star and it just shows what clever little dogs Jack Russell's are. He is very lucky to have been rescued by such a wonderful family.
