Grandparents endured the “worst week of their lives” when their beloved dog, Fred, went missing from his groomers.
Joan and John Rankin, of Haresfinch in St Helens, were overwhelmed by the support they received from the community to help find Fred, a six-year-old Shih Tzu. Their granddaughter, Antonià Kelly, said everyone was incredibly relieved when Fred was finally found on Wednesday, June 15 – eight days after he had originally gone missing.
Fred ran away from his groomers to Blackbrook rugby field on the morning of June 7. Despite multiple sightings, the family were starting to lose hope that they’d ever see him again.
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Antonià, 27, said: “The anxiety was unbelievable when I found out he was missing. I kept thinking ‘What if he gets hit by a car? What if we never find him again?’
“It was so worrying and scary, especially when it got to night time after we thought we were going to find him that day. I can’t tell you how many times we cried. My grandma couldn’t eat or sleep.”
The family felt “huge relief” when Fred was found at a children’s play area and came home at last. Joan and John, who are in their 70s, have had Fred since he was a puppy and also own his dad, Benji.
Antonià grew up with Fred, who “loves cuddles and attention”. Her three-year-old son Teddy, Fred’s “best friend”, had also been desperate to find him, shouting out his name on walks.
Antonià said she “couldn’t believe” the incredible support she’d received from the community of St Helens after putting out an appeal on Facebook. The mum-of-one had dozens of messages from well-wishers and people offering to search the area for her.
Two men, Ian Webster and Mark Johnson, even went out looking for Fred with their drones. When Antonià went into Argos, the woman behind the counter recognised her, asked about Fred and gave her a hug.
Antonià said: “St Helens has been absolutely amazing. I’m proud to say that I live here because the support has been absolutely unbelievable.”
Fred’s family themselves barely came home over the week as they searched for their pet. Antonià’s fiancé, Ian Rankin, woke up at 5am to search for him, while her grandad John went out on his bike and the rest of the family took it in turns to search the area.
They left out food and sardines, as well as Fred’s favourite fluffy sock, to try to get him to come home. On the morning he came home, Fred drank three bowls of water, had a bath and ate his way through three pouches of food.
Antonià said she received a call at 6am that he had been found. She said: “I was so relieved I was shaking with excitement. I couldn’t control the tears and I couldn’t wait to get to my grandma’s house.
“My grandma couldn’t speak through her crying. Fred was licking everyone and howling and we could tell he was so happy to be home.
“It’s a huge relief. It’s like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”
She said Fred is back to his usual self, despite having a puncture in his eye that has turned to a cyst. The vets are confident his eye will be saved.
Antonià said she wanted to thank everyone in St Helens who helped look for Fred, including her sister Kia Doyle and her fiancé Daryl Thompson, Lynne Rankin and Jordan Stephenson.
She said her partner Ian Slater, his sister Paige and parents Angela and Steven had been of invaluable help. The groomers closed down to help the search, posting leaflets around the town.
