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Rosie's story

26th February 2013 @ 7:07am – by Dave Martin
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There have been many tales over the years in which AudlemOnline has helped owners be reunited with lost dog/cat/guinea pig/python (delete as applicable). Here's a different twist on the story, where an escaping dog 250 miles away was reunited with owners via AudlemOnline, Vicky at The Bridge, and some smart detective work by the Sussex police.

Nessa & I were singing at an acoustic music concert in the village hall at Ringmer, East Sussex, so were staying with friends a short distance from the hall. Now Rosie is a 16-month-old Welsh Springer who's everybody's best friend (as folks in The Bridge & Lord C know), so we felt inflicting her all evening on the good folk of Ringmer was a bit much: she had to stay in the kitchen. But she has a party trick of opening doors'

We were last out of the house around 7pm, but oh horrors, we forgot to lock the back door. By 9pm Rosie had decided she was bored being alone with Radio 2, so effected her escape by opening the back door (easy-peasy, just stood on a window cill to reach the handle) and leaping a four foot fence.

Fortunately, a local was heading out so she made a beeline for him to make friends, rather than heading onto the busy road. He duly tried to contact us via the home and mobile numbers on her tag, but my mobile was also in the kitchen listening to Radio 2! It seems the good Samaritan had an assignment with a pint of local ale, so passed Rosie onto a fellow local who called the police. They turned up in a squad car (must have been a quiet night) and took Rosie into the custody of a warm car: great for her as she likes heat and men in uniforms!

The local 'bobby' started his detective work, as dog wardens don't do Saturday nights. The home number on the tag got him our name (D J Martin) and home address, but of course, no-one at home. So he turned to the internet and found AudlemOnline, which led him to 'Dave Martin' and the Monday music sessions at The Bridge: a long shot, but worth a try. A phone call to Vicky at The Bridge confirmed that a Welsh Springer was a regular (Vicky always has a biscuit for Rosie!). But she only knew us as Dave & Nessa so wasn't sure about the surname: another quick phone call confirmed it was Martin, so the police had a likely ID for the owners, but what was the dog doing 250 miles from home?

The 'bobby' then put two and two together, knowing there was a music concert in the village hall: another long shot! So whilst we were performing our last number, the police appeared in the hall and the organisers confirmed our name, and that we did indeed have a Welshie called Rosie. Game, set and match to the police force!

We came off stage to find Rosie happily ensconced on the front seat of the patrol car, enjoying all the attention!! After thanks to the police, Rosie was back in the kitchen, with the door securely locked this time: we turned off Radio 2 as that may have been what drove her out!

So Sussex Police, AudlemOnline and Vicky combined to get Rosie back with her owners within 90 minutes of her escaping, for which we are truly grateful. And by the way, the concert raised £1100 for Breast Cancer Care, so a good result all round.


This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.

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