A Christmas miracle! Runaway Winston comes home

Thursday 20 December 2018

After spending four days down a rabbit hole in the sand dunes, Jack Russell Winston was last night found and reunited with his family.

Little Winston went missing on Sunday after getting caught in a rabbit run, but he was finally located last night by rescuers who had to dig him out of the hole.

Dozens of islanders - many of whom are fellow dog owners - were involved in the search for the pup. Local dogs were also set the task of helping track down Winston, with their owners posting pictures of their pups digging through the dunes.

Tripe was buried in the sand in the hope that it would entice him to show himself, but after three days of search, Winston was still nowhere to be seen.

He was eventually located with the help of local family business, Drainway Services, who came to the dunes with drain cameras to work out the direction of the runs. A thermal imaging camera lent by an islander was also used to pinpoint the exact location of the small pup.

Winston was dug out of his hole by JJ Gallagher, a specialist in tracking and rescue systems at RS Tracker and owner of a five-year-old Jack Russell, Sammie. Following the four-day search, JJ described himself as "100% shattered but over the moon", adding: "I never felt as happy to get my hand licked down a hole!"

Pictured: Winston got stuck in a rabbit hole and was found on Wednesday night.

Winston's owners were probably the most ecstatic to have their four-legged family member back home in time for Christmas. They wholeheartedly thanked all the people involved in the search before reassuring them that the pup was in perfect health. 

"Winston has a clean bill of health, has tucked into scrambled egg, drank water and now enjoying a calm relaxed sleep knowing that he is home," Debbie Wood wrote on the Dog Forum. "The other three boys were very pleased to see him. I am so very grateful to everyone who helped and for everyone’s support and positive thoughts... Christmas miracles do happen!"

Members of the 7,400-strong Jersey Dog Forum Facebook group welcomed the good news. One praised Winston's family for persisting in trying to find their pup as well as all the people that were instrumental in making the miracle happen. She wrote: "Over the last few days I have seen an incredible bond between Debbie and Winni. Debbie never gave up hope that she would find her fur ball. Once located every time she asked him to bark he barked. The love was very clear to feel and see over these last few days.

"There was also an incredible bond between JJ and Sammy. He is a small dog with a big heart and he kept working trying to locate Winni. To all the other dogs and their owners who were helping and in hindsight the dogs were telling us where to look. For everyone who never gave up to get Winnie home, fur balls and humans."