By Lisa Ramsden
A reward is being offered for the safe return of a much-loved dog who went missing in the Mournes over a fortnight ago. Mabel is a two-year-old chocolate brown spaniel-Labrador cross. She is “totally and utterly adored” by her now devastated owner, Ellie Dickson, who has spent nights sleeping in her car to be closer to where her “best friend” vanished, on 15 August. They had been on the trail from the Ott car park to Lough Shannagh at the time.
In the days that have followed, Ellie and her family have carried out extensive investigations in a bid to find their much-loved Mabel. They have searched the area, took up the offer of help from local canine search and rescue charity SARDA IN, and have drones scouring the landscape in a bid to bring an end to their near three weeks of misery. The Dicksons have knocked on hundreds, if not thousands, of doors in the area and put up posters in towns and villages across the district. They have also highlighted Mabel’s disappearance on social media.
Their hopes had at one point been raised, when several people reported seeing a dog similar to Mabel in Newcastle, but sadly nothing transpired. Ellie adopted a then four-month-old Mabel from Corran Kennels, near Downpatrick. Whilst timid around strangers, she quickly settled in with the family, where she is safe and loved.
Ellie’s mum, Lucinda, says as time rolls on they are desperate for any information that will help them find Mabel. The family is offering a £2,000 reward for their beloved Mabel’s safe return. Remaining hopeful that she is in ‘fight or flight’ mode, frightened and disorientated, some animal experts have suggested that Mabel may be reverting to ‘wild’ behaviour now, and that this has, to date, hindered her rescue.
Drones returned to the area where she was last seen yesterday (Tuesday), with volunteers from charities Lost Paws NI, SARDA IN, and SkyWatch conducting their latest searches. A local man with a pilot’s licence has even taken to the air to carry out surveillance flights, but, as yet, Mabel has not been located.
Whilst the searches continue, Ellie, her sister, and parents are clinging on to hope that they will receive good news. However, they have tempered it with the fact they know that as the days go on, the chances of survival become slimmer. “If something has happened to Mabel, we will accept that and deal with it, but it’s the not knowing that is very hard to live with,” Lucinda said.
She explained that Ellie and Mabel had been returning to their car when she vanished. “Ellie looked down at her phone for a minute or two, and when she finished reading that text message, she looked back up and Mabel was nowhere to be seen. It’s stranger than strange. Mabel never is out of our sight; we just can’t work out what happened.”
One theory is that Mabel became disorientated and was unable to retrace her steps. As the search continues, the Dickson family say they are indebted to the kindness of countless strangers. From people taking to the skies, and the hills, to those offering free accommodation for the family so they don’t have lengthy drives to and from home and the mountains, they said every offer of support and help is appreciated “more than words can ever say.”
“We will never be able to repay people for what they are doing for us, and for Mabel,” Lucinda continued. “We just hope they know that we are indebted to them.”
Anyone who can help is asked to contact Lucinda on 07821 748747 or Lost Paws NI on (028) 90406054.
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