Community spirit carries missing pup home

Ten month-old black Labrador, Dixie was first noticed missing at 5pm on Monday, November 5 when Laura Blackmore, who owns the pooch with her partner Kelly Saunders, returned home from work.
“I had been home at 3pm and she was fine,” said Miss Blackmore, aged 24. “When I got home at 5pm she wasn’t there. I was devastated.”
It is thought Dixie became frightened by fireworks as the town began celebrating Guy Fawkes night, and jumped into a neighbouring garden before escaping through a hole in their front fence on Priory Road.
Miss Blackmore instantly began a search for the pup in the local neighbourhood, printing posters and posting in local community groups on social-media site, Facebook.
Several sightings were then reported to Miss Blackmore after her friends posted pictures of missing Dixie on their own Facebook pages to spread the word.
At 6pm she was seen dodging cars at St John’s roundabout, shortly afterwards she was spotted in Bartholomew Street and later by the Kennet Centre.
Her frantic owner scoured the streets until midnight, visiting places Dixie had been seen, returning again at 6am the following morning before work, but still could not find her beloved pet.
Further sightings close to City playground off Andover Road area were reported before good news came at 4pm, 24 hours after she disappeared.
She was finally reported safe by two men who managed to catch her on Hambridge Road, after hearing about Dixie’s escape from a friend on Facebook.
Miss Blackmore extended her thanks to all those who helped to bring Dixie home.
“So many people were out looking in their cars for her, people I don’t even know,” she said. “I can’t believe that so many people would do that for someone they don’t know.
“Hundreds of people came together to find her and we are so grateful that we got her back unharmed. It’s just really great community spirit.”