Crufts: Missing dog found after search operation

Ruth the Coonhound gets some much needed rest after being found by volunteers

A dog who went missing at Crufts, sparking a search operation involving a drone and air traffic control, was found safe and well 48 hours later.

Ruth, a coonhound from Italy, slipped her collar at the Ibis Hotel near the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on Sunday.

Volunteers came together to search, a drone was launched, and she was found about eight miles away in Bordesley Green in Birmingham on Tuesday.

The canine had been due to compete at the dog show before she took off without warning.

Krizia Buso, Ruth'so owner, flew to the UK from Italy when she found out her dog had vanished.

Jacqui Whitworth, from Stourbridge, helped mount the search for Ruth and said a huge number of people came forward to assist.

One man let volunteers camp outside his house, bringing them tea and coffee and allowing them to use his facilities.

Air traffic control at nearby Birmingham Airport gave permission for a drone to go up to help the search.

Eventually a phone call came in and Mrs Whitworth discovered Ruth had been seen at a pub near to where she had previously been sighted.

The moment dog owner Krizia Buso was reunited with Ruth

An emotional video showed the moment the dog rushed to its owner on a field.

"[With] the number of people who helped us my phone was absolutely ringing and ringing," Ms Whitworth told BBC Radio WM.

"I was talking to people sand saying I've got go [because I had] another call."

"You can actually see in that video Ruth moving towards her and you can actually see the second she thought 'you're my mum' and just went rushing to her," Ms Whitworth added.

Ruth and her owner have now left for Italy.

About 24,000 dogs take part in Crufts, where they are judged in competitions according to their agility, behaviour and looks.

A coonhound is an American type of hunting dog developed for the hunting of raccoons.