Missing dog found thanks to radio appeal

Paul Marston said it was surreal to be without his dog Duprie

An arthritic dog that went missing earlier this month has been reunited with his owner following a BBC appeal.

There were fears that Paul Marston’s companion Duprie might have been stolen when he was discovered missing from the garden at his home in Stoke-on-Trent earlier this month.

Duprie’s absence was particularly worrying as the 11-year-old cockapoo requires daily medication to treat arthritis.

“It’s just been overwhelming, it’s like a surreal experience that I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through,” Mr Marston said.

“It’s just massive relief - and admiration for all the people who have supported me,” he added.

Beauty's Legacy, a charity that helps locate missing pets, received a call this week to say Duprie had been found after an appeal on BBC Radio Stoke.

Lisa Dean had been leading the charity's efforts to find Duprie and said he had been found less than a mile away from his home in Shelton.

“It was incredible,” she said, speaking about the reunion.

“It was tears from Paul, tears from me. It was very emotional.”

Duprie was found less than a mile away from home

She said the dog had now been bathed and given his medication and was due to get checked over by vets.

They were still hoping to review CCTV footage to see how the dog had gone missing in the first place, she added.

The charity also reminded the man who found Duprie that it was a legal requirement to report found dogs to the dog warden, Ms Dean said, and had he done so it could have meant Duprie being returned a lot sooner.

Ms Dean said: “Because Paul lives along with Duprie, they’re best friends.

“He’s had him his whole life and he was worried about Duprie missing him as much as he was missing his dog.”

Duprie was thrilled to be back with his owner and Mr Marston’s life had been “put back together”, she said.

Mr Marston added lessons had been learned and he was looking into getting a GPS device to keep Duprie safe, but for now the pair were just happy to be back together.

“He’s on the lead and wagging his tail, as happy as he could be,” he said.