Lost for Years, Cocker Spaniel Reunites with Family 50 Miles from Home
By Jill Dando News
After an absence of over three years, Belle, a cocker spaniel, has been reunited with her owners, Josh Burns and his partner Shellee.
The dog, who disappeared from their Sturry home near Canterbury in March 2021, was recently found by a dog warden in a park in Paddock Wood, approximately 50 miles away.
Belle was merely two years old when she vanished, prompting her owners to launch an extensive search, complete with a reward offer.
As time passed without any leads, the couple's optimism faded. Burns recalled, "The trail went cold and, despite so many people looking for her, there were no clues as to what had happened."
Last week, the couple received an unexpected call from a dog warden who had discovered Belle wandering alone in a park. The warden used Belle's microchip to contact her owners.
Burns, who operates a plumbing and building business, expressed his disbelief: "After so long, we'd pretty much given up hope of getting her back. It's just a miracle."
Upon retrieval, Belle's condition shocked her owners, leading them to suspect she had been used for breeding. "Belle had clearly been treated poorly. She was absolutely filthy and looked very neglected. She had also had at least one litter of puppies — and who knows how many more — so she had been used for breeding," Burns explained.
He added, "I hope the people that do this to these poor dogs can live with themselves because it's absolutely inhumane."
Despite initial confusion, Belle quickly readjusted to her old home. Burns shared, "As soon as I got her home, it was clear she remembered us. She became super-happy and just like her old self."
"It's been a long road, but after three and a half years, we are just so thrilled to have her home," he concluded.
Belle now has a new companion - a five-month-old puppy named Winnie, whom the couple adopted earlier this year.
