…to find a lost puppy.
Young Kaycee McCardle discovered this over Easter weekend when her five-month old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Lady, went missing and scores of local people turned out to help in the search. Hundreds more were gripped by the unfolding story over three days through the ‘Finding Lady’ Facebook page.
The drama began at lunchtime on Easter Sunday when the car carrying Kaycee,16; mum, Kim McLeish, grannie and three dogs was involved in a crash near Paxton House.
Kim takes up the story: ‘We were on our way from Selkirk to Cocklawburn to give Lady her first beach outing when we crashed. All the airbags deployed and I thought it was smoke and was desperate to get everyone out of the car. I was stuck behind the airbag and my car door wouldn’t open. And, unbeknownst to
us, Kaycee had broken her rib and she dropped the puppy’s lead as she struggled to get out of the car. In the confusion of helping the other motorists and dealing with our injuries Lady ran off.
‘We all immediately started looking for the puppy. Kaycee didn’t want to go to hospital, but eventually at six o’clock she had to leave.
‘So many people picked it up on Facebook. Paxton car park was full of people pulling on their boots. Kaycee’s dad Paul McArdle and his work-mates came out after their shift and camped in cars for two nights near where Lady was last seen.
‘The local community really came together we have never felt community spirit like it – we’re not even local – it was really amazing especially in such atrocious weather.’
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The search continued through Sunday night, all day Monday and through Monday night. ‘In the early hours of Tuesday a gentleman from Mountain Rescue who’d travelled from Edinburgh with thermal imaging equipment spotted Lady,’ said Kim.
‘Later that day we had a drone and that was when we spotted her again, a mile or so from the crash scene. Kaycee went with my sister in law, they stopped the car near where the drone saw her, opened the door and called her name and Lady came running to the car. She was bone dry and really clean and still had her lead on.
‘I have to say a big Thank you to everyone who came to help, shared Facebook posts, gave advice; to Drone SAR; Dogs Lost; Fellowship Dog Training;
Muzzle Mutts; Alan Wightman; Ollie Cowgill at Sky Vantage; Paxton House for letting us use the facilities & their grounds as a meet-up point. And to Gill and Pete Brownlie who looked after my mum at the crash scene.
‘Thanks to all the locals who gave Paul and his work friends food, hot drinks, even clean socks. McDonalds who sent meals for the searchers.’
Kaycee, now recovering from the ordeal, says she felt ‘pure terror’ at the time. ‘I didn’t know if I’d ever get Lady back; if she was hit by a car, or stolen or halfway down England. I felt helpless.
‘I can’t drive and I was injured but I kept searching because I thought if everyone else is, then I have to. Everyone was so kind and I don’t think we could have found our puppy without their help.’
And Lady?
‘She’s got a couple of bald patches, but that just makes her stronger. We’re so happy she’s home.’