A couple's day out walking in the Lake District ended in a frantic search for their much-loved Doberman.
Lois Sands, 24, from Croxteth and Matthew Draper, 24 from Childwall were walking with “their shadow” Rocco on Sunday (April 2). It is believed the dog may have spotted something on the peak of Crinkle Crags as he darted off.
Lois said: “For a split second we looked away, he must have seen something on the peak ahead because he ran towards it and within seconds he was miles out.
READ MORE: Condition update after teenager hit by Arriva bus
"We had just watched the sunset so it was starting to get dimmer, we had him on a lead and only ever let him off when we go on the mountains for the toilet as he won’t go on the lead. The ground was quite flat where we could see everything around us so we let him off to go the toilet on our way back down.
"There was nothing around for a split second we looked away he must of seen something in the distance on the peak ahead cos he ran towards the peak and within seconds was miles out Matty chased after him but he’d gone that far we just lost sight of him completely."
Since returning home, the couple have started a social media campaign urging anyone in the area or surrounding areas to keep an eye out for Rocco, who is two-years-old.
Lois and Matthew have been in contact with mountain rescue teams and are organising searches at the site Rocco was last seen - on Great Carrs and Wetherlam side of Crinkle Crags, and in surrounding areas over the valleys of Great Langdale and Upper Eskdale.
They are also appealing for any locals with thermal drones to assist in their search and to check crevices and drops in case he has fallen.
Lois added: “Mountain rescue have said it’s possible he’s made his way to Coniston or surrounding areas.
"We also want to get the word out to people nearby so that they can keep an eye out if he has made it down and is hiding.”
The couple welcomed Rocco - brought over to the UK from Lithuania - into their lives during lockdown in December 2020. Lois said: “Matthew saw him online and went to visit, he was caged and the owners said they didn’t have time for him.
“We brought him home, he was so anxious when he got here, he wouldn’t walk outside for over a week. We managed to get him to walk to the end of the path one day and slowly we watched his confidence grow and he was soon running around everywhere.”
The couple want to thank the public for the “overwhelming support, advice and offers to go out and look” they have received so far. They are asking the public to take photos and pin their locations if there are any sightings.
Lois and Matthew said Rocco was wearing a black Julius k9 harness and brown leather collar at the time he went missing.
If you have any information in relation to Rocco’s disappearance, please contact Lois and Matthew on 07805466374.
READ NEXT:
Tragedy after girl, 4, asked her dad to run her a bath
Gangs from other cities 'reluctant to come to Liverpool'
Dad 'treated like criminal' as armed police search home for CCTV of shooting
Woman beat mum with dog lead as she waited at school gates
House near sand dunes reduced after being on sale for more than a year
