THE owner of a dog which was rescued after being lost for over six hours in Christchurch has thanked the community’s response in helping to find his pet.

Annie, a one-year-old black Labrador, went missing whilst out on a walk along the River Stour, on Thursday October 21.

Stuart Armstrong, Annie’s owner, said: “My partner Debbie took Annie out for a walk at around 3.45pm down to the Meridians in Christchurch, which is a local walking route we usually take her on.

“Sometimes if Annie feels she hasn’t had a long enough walk she takes herself away and runs off, but she usually returns.

“She jumped into the River Stour there and can usually make it back. She went into the water and was apparently struggling a bit.

“A gentleman on the other side of the river went into the water to get the ball and threw it back Annie jumped in again but before she managed to get to the other side, she got swept further downstream and out of sight.”

Having returned back home from his job at Michael Adam Estates Agent at 5pm, Stuart rushed out to join his wife Debbie, who was walking frantically up and down the river desperate to find their young pet.

Bournemouth Echo: The section of the Rover Stour where Annie went in the river to swim to the other side

After spending another hour looking for Annie, Stuart decided to upload a post to his Facebook account to ask for fellow dog walkers to be on the lookout for his lost pooch.

He also posted a similar message in the Christchurch Rumour Control group, and, within 20 minutes, it had had loads of shares and comments.

Stuart added: “Someone suggested contacting the RNLI about it, so I called them, and they said for me to call the coastguards.

“So, I got in touch with them and when I went back out to search for, we heard a boat which we presumed was the coastguards.

“It wasn’t, it was in fact the Wick Ferry. Matt Piper, who was at the wheel, said he saw the post and asked to borrow the ferry to help look for her.”

Having been tasked at 7.48pm, Southbourne Coastguards also arrived to help provide assistance and safety advice to people searching for the lost dog on the River Stour.

Not long after that, dozens more people ventured out into the dark on foot, on paddleboards and on boats looking for Annie, including Pete Buckle, a close neighbour of Stuart and Debbie who came out on his RIB.

After continued efforts to locate Annie, Stuart and his family liaised with the coastguards who advised to call off the search at 9.45pm, six hour after she went missing.

Bournemouth Echo: The hole where Annie was rescued from a tangle of brambles

Having retired to his car, already thinking about how he was to begin searches for Annie again in the morning, his fortunes began to change.

“As we got to the car, I lit a cigarette with my stepson and as we were stood there, we heard the faintest of whimpers and knew straight away it was Annie,” said Stuart.

“We walked over to where we thought we’d heard the noise come from but couldn’t see her. It must have taken another 15 minutes of silence before we heard another whimper.

“We shone the light into the brambles, and you could just see her tangled up in the mesh of brambles.”

Residents began rushing to the commotion and used secateurs and hacksaws to cut through the brambles and provided mats and blanks to put on the ground to help drag her out.

Bournemouth Echo: Stuart Armstrong being reunited with Annie after she went missing in Christchurch for six hours on Thursday October 21. Photo from Rachel Fothergill

And then at 10.15pm, Annie was finally freed and reunited with her owner.

Stuart added: “I was totally overwhelmed that people were still out at that time helping to find her.

“Pete said he had gone down to the Meridian and told people she had been found and there was a massive cheer from people clearly still out at the time looking for her.

“She came home with us that evening; we gave a wash down and warmed her up a bit. She gobbled down her dinner as she hadn’t eaten all evening.”

Stuart took to social media again that evening to reveal the good news and received a massive wave of support.

He said: “I went on Facebook when we got back home and saw the post on Christchurch Rumour Control page had well over 500 shares.

“That evening I uploaded a post saying she was safe and well, and that has had over a thousand comments and likes.

“It just goes to show the power of social media.”

Stuart and his wife Debbie, who both work at Michael Adam Estates Agents, have shown their appreciation for the assistance given by residents in helping to track down Annie.

Bournemouth Echo: Stuart and Debbie Armstrong with Annie outside their Michael Adam Estates Agent on Fairmile Road

He said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who offered their support, the people who shared the internet link, everyone who came out and searched, the coastguard and anyone that we have forgotten to mention.

“We would like to thank you all personally, but that's just not physically possible so, if everyone could take this message as a personal thank you to each and every one of you, that would be great.

“We have an amazing community in Christchurch and some amazing people. Annie is in the office most days, so if anyone wants to pop in and say hi, I'm sure you would be welcomed with a tail wag and a lick.

“Annie would also like to send a great big WOOF of thanks too.”