Joy after 'needle in haystack' search for lost dog

Eddie's owner said he "snored all night" after returning home

A woman reunited with her dog after a 29-day search said it had been like looking for a "moving needle in a haystack".

Several sightings of Eddie were reported in the north and east of the island after the 10-year-old Border collie slipped his lead while on a walk with a dog sitter in Ramsey on 9 January.

The dog's owner Karen Christian finally tracked him down on Wednesday evening following a sighting of him in the Glen Auldyn area.

She said the family pet had jumped into the back of her car "as if nothing had happened" after she called his name, leaving her "shaking and crying" with relief.

Ms Christian said the ex-Romanian rescue dog, who was "used to to living on the streets" had "snored all night" after returning home.

Eddie spent 29 days away from home

She said during Eddie's near month-long absence from home, her family would "run out the door" to look for the dog whenever sightings were reported, and volunteers had also used a drone to try to locate the rescue pet.

The Border collie, who was adopted by the family six years ago, had been reported as being spotted miles away on the Mountain Road and at Groudle, but he was eventually found near to where he first went missing.

Ms Christian, who lives in Onchan, thanked members of the Manx community for their response as the family "wouldn't have tracked him down without the sightings".

Recounting the reunion with her pet, she said Eddie, who was timid and would only answer to her or her daughter, had jumped into the car after she opened the boot and gently called his name.

Her pet, who was "happy" but had "lost a few pounds", was now wearing an air tag until a collar with a tracker to monitor his movements arrived, she added.

A woman reunited with her dog after a 29-day search said it had been like looking for a "moving needle in a haystack".

Several sightings of Eddie were reported in the north and east of the island after the 10-year-old Border collie slipped his lead while on a walk with a dog sitter in Ramsey on 9 January.

The dog's owner Karen Christian finally tracked him down on Wednesday evening following a sighting of him in the Glen Auldyn area.

She said the family pet had jumped into the back of her car "as if nothing had happened" after she called his name, leaving her "shaking and crying" with relief.