Dog rescued after living in wild for several months

The female lurcher was caught using a modified dog pen and will be assessed before going to a new home

A lurcher dog that had been living as a stray for several months has been caught by an animal rescue team.

Noah's Ark Rescue worked with staff at O'Neill Racing to trap the female lurcher after it began to be regularly spotted in the grounds of the horse racing training yard in Temple Guiting, near Cheltenham.

It is thought the dog had been hunting wild animals to survive but nearby farmers had become concerned that it may disturb sheep as they were preparing to lamb.

"They know how to survive. They live on rabbits, hares, everything - they don't want to come near people," said Jen Coles, founder of Noah's Ark Rescue.

Staff at the race horse training centre, owned by successful trainer Jonjo O'Neill, had been feeding the dog to gain its trust and lure it closer into the grounds.

The dog was caught in a modified pen, with a laser beam to trigger the cage to close when an animal enters.

The trap has recently been used to catch two other dogs, including another lurcher in Nailsworth that had survived alone for two weeks.

'The right home'

Ms Coles said the dog will "get a new home," after being assessed and quarantined with a dog warden.

"They'll figure a bit more out about her and see how her temperament is and then its a case of finding the right home," she said.

"Running in the wild is all adrenaline fuelled - they're sort of in a panic mode but as soon as she was in the van she just slept.

"Lurchers are a greyhound cross so they're built for speed and can cover miles in minutes - they know how to hunt but she was obviously hungry that night because she took the food," Ms Coles added.

Ms Cole said she had been trapping dogs alongside her partner for about 20 years.

The rescue service works with a drone company to locate lost and stray dogs.

Cotswold District Council said that anyone who encounters a lost or stray dog should check the area for an owner before reporting the dog to them.

They also reminded dog owners to ensure their pet is microchipped, which is a legal requirement.