By Isle of Wight Observer
Dear Editor,
On Thursday August 13, at 9.30pm, during the firework display in Shanklin, at the very loud explosion of the first firework, my springer spaniel, Jay, panicked, slipped his lead and ran away in the direction of Lake along the cliff path. The next sighting was about 11pm, by the Canoe Lake, on Sandown seafront, by the chaps tending the lake to protect the fish.
The next morning a team of volunteers from Track a Dog came to Sandham Gardens to try and locate him, but with no luck. Further searches during the day and night covering a very large area also failed to find him. On Saturday morning again further searches, this time with the help of Drone SAR, another voluntary group, also failed. On Saturday evening we all gathered to try again, but this time Mike, from Drone SAR, came with a very sophisticated drone fitted with a thermal imaging camera. He scoured Brading Marshes and managed to locate Jay. After a long hike across the marsh at night, I managed to find and catch him. He was on the run for 48 hours, but we had a very happy ending.
I would like to thank all the people who gave their time and effort to this search. Without this a happy reunion would probably not have happened.
Dan and Lin Saunders, Shanklin