A dog who bolted and got lost at the Devil’s Dyke walked six miles in snow and freezing conditions to get back to his Hove home.
Cracker, a three-year-old Beagle, went missing at about 3pm on Friday afternoon while she was being walked by Rob Harper.
Rob searched the Dyke for almost 12 hours until leaving at 2.30am with no luck.
Meanwhile, his wife Pippa posted an appeal on the Brighton Dogwatch Facebook page, which was shared by hundreds of people within hours – but there was still no sign of their missing dog.
But the next morning, Robert’s wife Pippa was over the moon when she heard Cracker whining at the front door.
Rob said: “We were walking on Devil’s Dyke and she got the scent of a deer we had disturbed.
“No calling or whistling her back to me would help – she was off after the deer and I couldn’t catch her up.
“I realised at midnight she was probably chasing the echo of my voice and whistles as it carried round the Dyke.”
Rob stayed on the Dyke until 2.30am, then headed home for a few hours sleep before heading back in the morning.
“It snowed overnight, and when I opened the curtains I went ‘oh no’ – you just think the worst.”
But to his delight, shortly after going back onto the downs, Pippa called him to tell him Cracker had returned.
The couple believe she followed a route back home from the Three Cornered Copse and across Hove Park, which Pippa had taken her along during marathon training.
Rob said: “Once she was home, she didn’t move from the sofa for 14 hours. She’s happy to be home.”
Pippa added: “The thing I think I was most bowled over about is how amazing people are – restores your faith in humanity. In particular Brighton Dogwatch – what a great Facebook group.”
just wonderful news for you all ! this has made my day – Cracker you’re a star!