A FOUR-day effort to track down a lost dog which took volunteers across Monmouth reached a happy ending as the escaped pooch was found on Sunday 25th February.

Phoenix, the four-year-old German Shepherd first went missing on Wednesday 21st February in the Wyefield Court area in Overmonnow.

Soon posts were made on social media asking if anyone had seen Phoenix and the sightings came rolling in.

Over the course of the next four days Phoenix was seen in Wonastow industrial estate, crossing the River Wye on the iron bridge, along Redbrook road and on the Wye Bridge.

As a rescue dog new to the area, Phoenix was quite nervous, making efforts to catch her more difficult.

However, this did not stop a number of people from getting out and searching for her.

Sally Henley, volunteer coordinator at UK German Shepherd Rescue, was one of those who helped organise the search effort. She said: “I was really impressed by how many people helped, I didn’t think so many people would care about a dog they didn’t know.

“The police were really good, they spent some time looking for her and spotted her a couple of times but couldn’t catch her, but the support from them was brilliant.

“We were putting up posters and stopping dog walkers to let them know about her. The people of Monmouth were amazing and I was genuinely stunned by how many people helped.”

Mrs Henley said the help of Ally Knight, a Forest of Dean volunteer for Doglost, a nationwide register of lost dogs, and the power of social media combined with local knowledge, was the key to tracking Phoenix down.

After hours of searching, Phoenix was finally found around 1.30pm on Sunday 25th February at the Monmouth Caravan Park on Rockfield Road by two volunteers.

Phoenix has now been returned to UK German Shepherd Rescue Angels while she recovers.