Thetford dog owner praises Bury St Edmunds community after emotional reunion with his missing pet

paul.derrick@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Published: 06:00, 09 October 2020

A dog owner who was reunited with his beloved pet missing for nearly six days has praised a Bury St Edmunds community for their help.

Tony Borrer, 77, was searching for crossbreed Rhen who escaped after his partner Mary fell outside Pets at Home on the Moreton Hall estate last Wednesday afternoon.

Rhen slipped out of her lead after being taken into Pets at Home - sparking a massive search for the Romanian rescue dog with numerous sightings of her across the estate.

Tony Borrer, 77, has been reunited with his dog Rhen who went missing last Wednesday. Picture by Mecha Morton

On Monday morning, Angela Sturgeon, a resident on Moreton Hall, spotted Rhen in her back garden and managed to keep her there until Tony, of Thetford , arrived for an emotional reunion.

Tony, who has had Rhen for several months, said: “I’m elated - I was on the verge of crying. The lady in the house was crying, a couple of neighbours came out - they were crying. It was very emotional. All of us were having nearly a big sob of happiness.

“Rhen looks fine. Actually I don’t know why, she looks like she has put on a bit of weight.

Rhen was found in a Moreton Hall resident's back garden. Picture by Mecha Morton

“I didn’t think I would see her again to be honest, I really didn’t.”

During her disappearance, Tony said he was ‘inundated’ with calls from people who had seen her and offers of help.

Tony, a retired electrician, said: “The community of Moreton Hall are something special because I’ve never known anything like this.

“It’s so nice to know there are good people about and they do care. I can’t praise the people enough and thank them enough.”

Tony Borrer with Rhen. Picture by Mecha Morton

Mrs Sturgeon said she saw Rhen sitting in their garden after one of her cats seemed ‘spooked’.

She contacted Karen Frost, from the Lost Dog Trapping Team, which was working to reunite Rhen with Tony.

They had set up cameras, a feeding station and traps and advised people not to chase Rhen. One volunteer even camped out overnight to try to spot her.

Tony’s daughter Donna thanked all those involved including Rita Humphries, who co-ordinated the rescue, those who put up posters and offered donations.

Animals Bury St Edmunds Human Interest Suffolk Homepage Thetford Paul Derrick