Paul Britton
October 16, 2009
Reunited: Midge with Jean Bradley
A border collie who ran away from the countryside to the bright lights of Salford has been reunited with her owners after they mounted a desperate search.
Midge vanished from her home in Salterforth, near Barnoldswick, east Lancashire, leaving owners Robert and Jean Bradley devastated.
The couple embarked on a search for their 10-year-old pet, clocking up 600 miles and putting up 300 appeal posters in the area around their home.
Eventually, they placed an advert in the M.E.N. The ad was seen by neighbours Christine Clough and Janet Riston, who had found a collie collapsed near their homes in Leicester Road, Broughton, three weeks earlier and taken her in.
They had nursed the dog back to health and given her the name Jordie, splitting the job of caring for her between them. The neighbours responded to the advert and an emotional reunion followed.
Midge is now home, but mystery surrounds how she travelled from her home to Salford, nearly 40 miles away.
Owner Jean, 55, said the kindness shown to her pet by the two Salford neighbours had 'restored her faith in human nature'.
She said: "Only Midge really knows how she got there. It is just amazing and a miracle to have her back. If it was not for the M.E.N. and the two ladies then she wouldn't be here. We can't thank them enough because it was like losing a family member. We feel blessed to have been so lucky in finding her, although we have aged 10 years."
Midge disappeared from a house Jean's husband Robert was working on in Chatburn, Clitheroe, on September 13.
She said: "It is not like her but we think she was looking for me. She is always with me." The family searched surrounding roads and villages and an advertising campaign followed. They even put up a huge sign appealing for information on a main road.
Jean said: "We rang every dog warden and vet as far as Blackpool and Preston. We were also talking to kennels. People were ringing up but it was never Midge. We were very worried because she is quite a timid dog and was on medication at the time. I could not sleep and it was terrible. We were just hoping she would turn up and the advert was the last resort."
Midge was spotted by friends who had been invited to dinner at the home of Janet Riston. Janet, 48, a civil servant, said: "The poor dog was collapsed in the street. We thought it was dead at first because it wasn't moving.
"Christine has dogs so she stayed with me. I fattened her up and she was quite lively in the end and was running around the garden. "We knew it was possible that it was the same dog in the advert so we got in touch.
"She was a really lovely, affectionate dog. I thought that I might end up keeping her but we did the right thing. I've never regretted it because I would hate to think of someone keeping my dog."
Janet sent Jean a photo and Robert arranged to collect her. Janet said: "The man was overcome. It was quite something to see." Jean told how they thought the call was a joke.
She added: "The wait for Robert to return was the longest of my life. It was unbelievable. I was just stunned when she came home and couldn't believe what had happened. We just want to say a big thanks to everyone.
"Midge is fine and at home wondering what all the fuss was about. We just don't know how she got to Salford but we are glad she did. "They took great care of her and it was like someone had given us a million pounds."
Source: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1176612_lost_sheepdog_turns_up_safe_in_salford
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