Missing springer spaniel Max makes return after being stolen from car (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Missing springer spaniel Max makes return after being stolen from car
10:00am Friday 4th January 2013 in News By Julie Magee
HOME SWEET HOME: Dexter Merritt, nine, with his dog Max, who mysteriously returned home yesterday morning more than 33 hours after he went missing
THE owner of a springer spaniel allegedly stolen from a car in Bournemouth has spoken of her relief after being reunited with her pet more than 33 hours after he disappeared.
Four-year-old Max was reported missing on Tuesday by distraught Fiona Merritt after being left for around 45 minutes in a grey Fiat Punto parked in Beechey Road, Charminster.
Desperate to find the much-loved pet, interior designer Fiona posted Max’s disappearance on Facebook and other social networking sites.
And yesterday morning Max mysteriously turned up at her in-laws’ home in East Avenue, Talbot Woods. She said: “I’m convinced that those responsible let Max go because they knew we were searching for him.”
The mum-of-one added: “It’s a mystery how Max got to Talbot Woods but my son Dexter is so relieved that Max is back with us.
“He’s a pedigree but we could never put a value on him. We are just so grateful to everyone who helped us find Max.”
There were fears that the family might never see their pet again following a spate of dognappings in Hampshire, involving three cocker spaniels snatched from separate properties, in the space of 24 hours.
There were also suspicious sightings of intruders and cars near kennels over the county, leading to fears that an organised gang was at work.
But a Dorset police spokesman said there was no link between’s Max’s reported disappearance and the Hampshire dognappings.
Comments(21)
miniminime
says...
11:19am Fri 4 Jan 13
scrumpyjack wrote:They didn't steal the car just the dog!
Brilliant news.
Wouldn't surprise me if the dog found his own way to the property; if they dumped him after stealing the car.
They're clever dogs and it could be he eventually recognised a land mark and ran to the nearest place he knew.
TinyLegacy
says...
11:59am Fri 4 Jan 13
scrumpyjack
says...
12:23pm Fri 4 Jan 13
miniminime wrote:My bad.
scrumpyjack wrote:They didn't steal the car just the dog!
Brilliant news.
Wouldn't surprise me if the dog found his own way to the property; if they dumped him after stealing the car.
They're clever dogs and it could be he eventually recognised a land mark and ran to the nearest place he knew.
Well make that quadruple brilliant news then.
Not the happy ending we're used to. (So tp speak).
scrumpyjack
says...
1:46pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Nice work.
Hit the p instead of the o. Blimey, I'm surprised they let me near a computer eh?
Nearly as bad as hitting the '?' twice when once is grammatically correct.
But then I would be a proper tool if I pointed that out.
Oops.
stevobath
says...
2:12pm Fri 4 Jan 13
TinyLegacy wrote:I thought that...I dont quite believe he was stolen.
Poor thing was probably fed up with being left in a car. Good job we havn't had hot weather really.
golfer33
says...
6:58pm Fri 4 Jan 13
bobsworthforever
says...
9:43pm Fri 4 Jan 13
peopleareidiots
says...
10:10pm Fri 4 Jan 13
ragj195
says...
10:28pm Fri 4 Jan 13
peopleareidiots wrote:why?
What? The dog was left in the car for 45 mins? If that's true that's disgusting
muscliffman
says...
10:36pm Fri 4 Jan 13
golfer33 wrote:Please read the article, the dog did not go home.
Got bored, jumped out and followed his own poo scent home. very natural. why this should be in the echo i dont know.
He 'turned up mysteriously' at the owner's in-laws home some miles away.
Mystery indeed!
Mangiafuoco
says...
10:39pm Fri 4 Jan 13
peopleareidiots wrote:Not exactly the middle of summer was it? A lot of dogs live tied up in kennels outside and as far as i am aware it is not illegal, so a confortable car for 45 minutes is not exactly hardship is it? I have been stranded in cars far longer then that. You are missing the point here sunshine. The problem is that you don't expect some scumbag to steal your dog from your car.
What? The dog was left in the car for 45 mins? If that's true that's disgusting
scrumpyjack
says...
11:00pm Fri 4 Jan 13
Mangiafuoco wrote:Bang on. We had a dog that would pine and sulk if we left it at home, sound of the car keys and she would throw herself at the door.
peopleareidiots wrote:Not exactly the middle of summer was it? A lot of dogs live tied up in kennels outside and as far as i am aware it is not illegal, so a confortable car for 45 minutes is not exactly hardship is it? I have been stranded in cars far longer then that. You are missing the point here sunshine. The problem is that you don't expect some scumbag to steal your dog from your car.
What? The dog was left in the car for 45 mins? If that's true that's disgusting
She would prefer to be left in the car than on her own at home. She had a bed, sometimes a chew and was never, ever, left when it was hot - even with "the window open".
Soopahnovah
says...
3:53am Sat 5 Jan 13
scrumpyjack wrote:Very true, many pups far prefer to wait in a car for an hour (not in the heat of Summer obviously) than to stay at home all day pining for their mum 'n' dad.
Mangiafuoco wrote:Bang on. We had a dog that would pine and sulk if we left it at home, sound of the car keys and she would throw herself at the door.
peopleareidiots wrote:Not exactly the middle of summer was it? A lot of dogs live tied up in kennels outside and as far as i am aware it is not illegal, so a confortable car for 45 minutes is not exactly hardship is it? I have been stranded in cars far longer then that. You are missing the point here sunshine. The problem is that you don't expect some scumbag to steal your dog from your car.
What? The dog was left in the car for 45 mins? If that's true that's disgusting
She would prefer to be left in the car than on her own at home. She had a bed, sometimes a chew and was never, ever, left when it was hot - even with "the window open".
Very good news Max found his way home, and with no one there, knew where grand-dad lived. Smart fellow.
Clearly wanted to be home with family, and is now happily so.
Curly Jefferson
says...
11:12am Sat 5 Jan 13
spooki
says...
12:38pm Sat 5 Jan 13
Curly Jefferson
says...
1:51pm Sat 5 Jan 13
elite50 wrote:elite50.. Did you grow up near power lines or something?
scrumpyjack wrote:"Pine and SULK"?
Mangiafuoco wrote:Bang on. We had a dog that would pine and sulk if we left it at home, sound of the car keys and she would throw herself at the door.
peopleareidiots wrote:Not exactly the middle of summer was it? A lot of dogs live tied up in kennels outside and as far as i am aware it is not illegal, so a confortable car for 45 minutes is not exactly hardship is it? I have been stranded in cars far longer then that. You are missing the point here sunshine. The problem is that you don't expect some scumbag to steal your dog from your car.
What? The dog was left in the car for 45 mins? If that's true that's disgusting
She would prefer to be left in the car than on her own at home. She had a bed, sometimes a chew and was never, ever, left when it was hot - even with "the window open".
This IS a dog that you are talking about?
Also you need to check your spelling, or did your dog teach you?
stevobath
says...
12:26pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Soopahnovah wrote:An hours not all day,& its a bit daft...Take the dog with you in the car so its not alone 'pining' at home....Then leave it in the car on its own?
scrumpyjack wrote:Very true, many pups far prefer to wait in a car for an hour (not in the heat of Summer obviously) than to stay at home all day pining for their mum 'n' dad.
Mangiafuoco wrote:Bang on. We had a dog that would pine and sulk if we left it at home, sound of the car keys and she would throw herself at the door.
peopleareidiots wrote:Not exactly the middle of summer was it? A lot of dogs live tied up in kennels outside and as far as i am aware it is not illegal, so a confortable car for 45 minutes is not exactly hardship is it? I have been stranded in cars far longer then that. You are missing the point here sunshine. The problem is that you don't expect some scumbag to steal your dog from your car.
What? The dog was left in the car for 45 mins? If that's true that's disgusting
She would prefer to be left in the car than on her own at home. She had a bed, sometimes a chew and was never, ever, left when it was hot - even with "the window open".
Very good news Max found his way home, and with no one there, knew where grand-dad lived. Smart fellow.
Clearly wanted to be home with family, and is now happily so.
What a daft statement you made along with an even dafter way of solving the problem...An hour at home pining alone or 45 minutes in a car ALONE pining?
scrumpyjack
says...
1:06pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Ermm wonder if that is too 'daft' a question?
stevobath
says...
1:03pm Tue 8 Jan 13
scrumpyjack wrote:Suggest you take a look at Soopahnovahs statement again?...As for the 'out for 4-7 hours...' Didnt see that mentioned & I'll say again...An hour at home pining (with food & favourite toy etc), or 45 mins pining in a car????
If you're out for 4 - 7 hours and the dog is happy to sleep in the car for 45 mins or so then which is worse? being left for four hours plus or for 40 mins plus?
Ermm wonder if that is too 'daft' a question?
Doesnt make much sense IMO..:)
scrumpyjack
says...
1:31pm Tue 8 Jan 13
stevobath wrote:Fair enough, we'll agree to disagree.
scrumpyjack wrote:Suggest you take a look at Soopahnovahs statement again?...As for the 'out for 4-7 hours...' Didnt see that mentioned & I'll say again...An hour at home pining (with food & favourite toy etc), or 45 mins pining in a car????
If you're out for 4 - 7 hours and the dog is happy to sleep in the car for 45 mins or so then which is worse? being left for four hours plus or for 40 mins plus?
Ermm wonder if that is too 'daft' a question?
Doesnt make much sense IMO..:)
i would just say, look out for the footage tha was released last year - may have been by RSPC - that showed the stress dogs suffer when left home alone.
It wasn't very nice.
scrumpyjack says...
10:12am Fri 4 Jan 13
Wouldn't surprise me if the dog found his own way to the property; if they dumped him after stealing the car.
They're clever dogs and it could be he eventually recognised a land mark and ran to the nearest place he knew.