My dog was missing for 13 hours in Poulton and I couldn't believe it when he turned up right where I lost him

A beloved dog that disappeared after being spooked on his regular walk, miraculously turned up 13 hours later at the exact spot from where he went missing.

Kano, the adored four-year-old red fox Labradoodle of Poulton woman Becky Redman, bolted off at 6.30am whilst they were on their usual daily walk around the Civic Field and Poulton Golf Club.

It wasn’t unusual for Kano to chase a squirrel, nor to go through a little cut-through between the field. But what was strange - and something that would result in an extraordinary act of human kindness - was he didn’t return.

“I saw the direction he went,” said Becky, “but there were several different routes he could have taken. I expected him to come straight back, just as he always does.

“But he didn't.

“Kano is incredibly attached to me. He's my shadow, my companion and very much part of our family.

“He's also familiar with every inch of that walk, which made his disappearance even harder to understand.

As the minutes turned into hours, I became increasingly frightened.

“How could a dog who knew the area so well simply vanish?”

Becky put an urgent appeal on local Facebook groups and what happened next she was was ‘absolutely extraordinary.’

Within hours, the post had been shared hundreds of times, people began arriving to help search, many of whom Becky had never met before.

“Friends, neighbours, dog walkers and complete strangers were walking through fields, checking bushes, ditches, woodland and surrounding areas of the golf course.

“My sons and step son were searching constantly, including using a golf buggy to access areas that were difficult to reach on foot.

“I walked approximately 13 miles, desperately trying to find him.”

Becky used a drone to search from above but to no avail and despite hours of searching and many people out looking for him, there wasn’t a single sighting of him.

Then, almost by a miracle, as daylight disappeared and a heartbroken Becky was facing the reality that he may never be found - he appeared out of nowhere.

“It was something happened that I will never forget.

“I was walking away from my car to continue looking for Kano when, completely out of nowhere, he appeared from the bushes.

“I couldn't believe my eyes.

After 13 hours, he had somehow made his way back to the exact spot where I'd parked my car that morning.

“He was frightened, exhausted and clearly injured, with his back end hunched over, but he knew exactly where he wanted to go - straight to my car.

“I genuinely cannot put into words what that moment felt like. The relief, disbelief and emotion were overwhelming.

“I had spent the entire day imagining every possible scenario, and by that point, I honestly didn't know whether I'd ever see him again.

“And there he was my beautiful boy had found his way back.”

Becky was overwhelmed by the support from the Poulton community, the incredible kindness and generosity of the people of Poulton.

“People who didn't know me, my sons or Kano gave up hours of their day to help.

“Some walked through fields and woodland, others searched ditches and surrounding roads. People offered drones, equipment, local knowledge and practical assistance.

“Hundreds of people shared his photograph and followed his story throughout the day.

“And even after he was found, the messages of concern continued. And still are.

“It was one of the worst days of my life, but it also reminded me how much kindness there is in the world.

To every single person who searched, shared, messaged, offered assistance or simply kept Kano in their thoughts, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

What happened to Kano?

Unfortunately, Kano didn't simply wander off and return unharmed.

He'd sustained some very nasty injuries, particularly around his groin, inner thighs, legs and hindquarters.

Large areas of his fur were missing, he had painful open wounds and abrasions, and he was struggling to sit, lie down or walk comfortably. His eyes were also extremely bloodshot.

“It was heart breaking to see him in that condition,” said Becky, “we still don't know exactly what happened to him during those 13 hours.

“One possibility is that he became trapped somewhere, perhaps in fencing, brambles or dense undergrowth, and injured himself struggling to get free.”

He has since had veterinary treatment, including x-rays and treatment for his wounds and is now recovering at home.