Cornish community joins hunt for lost dog

A Leicestershire family have thanked a Cornish community for rallying to help after their dog ran away while on holiday.

Ozzie, who is a five-year-old terrier, has been missing since May 10.

His owners spent their entire holiday on the Lizard Peninsula trying to find him, but had to go home empty-handed.

But locals set up a Facebook page to share sightings and vowed to continue the search.

Ozzie’s owner Ingrid Cooke, 70, from Market Harborough, said the dog escaped just as they arrived for their stay at a Cornish caravan park.

“I went to get him out of the car and he ran straight through my hands and ran down the road,” Ms Cooke said.

“I called him several times, but he looked at me like he was saying, ‘I’m sorry, but I’m not getting back in that car.’

Since then, Ozzie has been seen several times in the village of Lizard, Cadgwith and Coverack, but has evaded capture.

Ozzie is a rescue dog and his family says he has always been very nervous and distrustful of strangers.

A dedicated Facebook page has attracted nearly 500 members who have shared sightings of Ozzie and distributed posters in the lizard.

Mrs Cooke said: “It was absolutely fantastic.

“We’ve had sniffer dogs out, we’ve had drones going up, we’ve even notified RNAS Culdrose base to keep an eye on him.

“I can’t thank everyone enough, there are just no words to say how grateful I am.

“It will be the best thing in the world to have him back.

“I got a good steak for him because he likes his mince.”