MANCHESTER, England — A little West Highland Terrier, who went missing five years ago, was found over 100 miles away from her family. Thanks to some good samaritans, a microchip and social media, the White family were reunited with their girl over the weekend.
Graeme Murtha and his family were driving along the road in Teesside when a small, disheveled dog ran out in front of them.
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“I was driving in my car with my family when we saw a dog crossing the road in front of us near the top of Green Lane,” Graeme Murtha told the Manchester Evening News. “We were only a little bit up the road when I decided to turn back to go and get her.”
Bella was very frightened and tried to run away from the family, but they were able to catch her. She was filthy and had a limp. It was clear that she had been wandering on her own for a long time.
They immediately took her to the vet where she was treated for an uncomfortable abscess on her paw. Luckily, the vet discovered her microchip and they discovered she was registered to a home in Rochdale, over 100 miles away. Unfortunately, they were unable to trace them.
That’s when the family took to social media and made a post to Facebook that was shared just enough times to get the attention of the daughter of Bella’s owner. This past weekend the Whites welcomed Bella back home.
Although the Murthas had become attached to Bella, they knew they were doing the right thing.
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“My little girl, Ebony, loves Bella. It was like Christmas had come early. But we had a talk. She knew it wasn’t going to be permanent,” explained Graeme Murtha.
“We think it is likely that she was stolen for breeding and then abandoned. It’s a happy end to the story.”