Lost dog reunited with family after being rescued from island in middle of lake
A dog has been reunited with her family after she went missing for a week and was found on an island in the middle of a lake in a West Midlands park.
RSPCA animal rescuer Cara Gibbon was called to Handsworth Park, after a member of the public reported seeing a frightened dog on the island.
She called West Midlands Fire Service for assistance so the trained water rescue team could help safely capture the terrified Staffordshire Bull Terrier-cross. Firefighters in drysuits waded across the lake to safely catch the dog and used a boat to take the grateful pet back across the water to Cara.
She checked the dog over and found she was called Amora from a microchip and she was also able to trace her very relieved owners – Mandy Baldock and her husband Keith, both 57.
Mandy told Cara the much-loved pet had been missing for a week from her home in Church Street, Lozells, after a visitor at the home had accidentally left a gate at the front of the house open.
Both dogs, Amora, six, and her son Fonzy, three, wandered out of the garden and the family launched a desperate search to find them. A day later, Mandy and her son Dan, 27, came across Fonzy as they were driving about three miles from their home – but there was no sign of Amora.
Mandy said: “We were relieved to get Fonzy back and kept searching for Amora. But we were really worried something horrible had happened to her as they are usually inseparable. It was really upsetting.
“Then a week later I got a call from the RSPCA to say she had been found and was safe and well – I was ecstatic.
“I just couldn’t believe she was found on an island in the middle of a lake – I am just relieved she was spotted and the lady who saw her called the RSPCA and waited for them to get to the scene.
“As soon as Cara brought Amora towards the house she saw me and made a run to get to me. She was so thrilled to be home. I guess she must have got spooked at some point and swam across the lake then decided she was too frightened to get back.
“She is now enjoying plenty of cuddles at home and is delighted to be back with Fonzy.”
Cara added: “It was so nice to see Amora settle straight back into her much-loved family home and I am very grateful to West Midlands Fire Service for helping in this rescue."
