Teddy, a very nervous rescue Bichon Frise, escaped from his dog minders on Thursday morning 10 April in Westhoughton, Bolton. He bolted and the last sighting was in a field at the side of the M61.
We were asked to help by his owner on the 12th April and all advice was given and posters put up in the area. On the 13th April, as I was on the way there, owner got a phone call from someone who had seen the poster and then saw Teddy. They followed our advice on the poster and ignored Teddy but phoned his owner. She was able to get there straight away and following our advice sat down on the ground with food. Teddy, however, had trotted off into the next field so we decided that his owner needed to go into that field. Because this was at the side of the motorway we really needed to be very careful that he wasn’t pushed out onto the motorway. Walking to the corner of the field, we came across Teddy who was walking next to the hedge. He didn’t seem to see us so owner went into that field and sat down.
As I was walking away to go back to the car I came across Teddy again. He turned around and went back into the field. Following my instructions, owner walked over to the other field but didn’t go in it and sat down again. We waited for 3 hours and at one point Teddy trotted past owner within metres of her. I needed to take some provisions to owner and we then planned that I would go back home for the trap. I think Teddy heard the word ‘trap’ as on my way back to my car I again came across him who was lying down under a hedge. He stood up and ran but luckily ran in the direction of his owner. I lay down on the grass and watched.
Teddy went near to his owner and ate some food. Then it took over 7 minutes, while he was circling his owner and while very near to her, for him to make the ‘switch’ and recognise her. Eventually he did and he was then happily in her arms. He is now safely home.
Teddy was very lucky as he had been in that field right at the side of the motorway for over 3 days. Thankfully he stayed where he was and didn’t go on it . He was holding his back leg up when moving around but it seems okay now. He will was checked at the vets and everything was okay. No more adventures for you Teddy . P.s. I got plenty of cuddles as I carried him back to the car 
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Thank you to everyone for sharing the post and heeding our advice not to search or approach. Remember, dogs just need to be allowed to settle and then plans can be put into place to safely capture them. Please don’t ever search or approach a lost dog or call out to them.
