A dachshund called Buddy — which ran away after being involved in a car crash near Yanwath — was found after an eight-hour search.
Buddy’s owners, a couple in their 60s from Lancashire, were seriously hurt when their Volkswagen Polo was in collision with a Ford Kuga, driven by a 62-year-old woman from Penrith, who was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through alcohol.
Following the collision, which occurred shortly before 9.30am, the passenger of the Polo was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, with serious injuries, and the driver also sustained serious injuries.
The driver of the Kuga was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, with minor injuries and has since been released under investigation, said a police spokeswoman.
Carol Jeffreys, of Glassonby, retired owner of Furry Tails kennels, said she saw a post on social media on Friday afternoon about a car crash and a missing dog near Pooley Bridge.
She said that her first question was on which side of Pooley Bridge had the accident happened, as the bridge is shut. After finding out it was on the Yanwath side and establishing the exact location, she headed straight out.
Carol said: “This is an extremely busy road. Buddy the dachshund was from away, and had escaped from the crash.
“His owners were taken to hospital and their car recovered.
“Lost dogs usually return to where they last saw their owners so this was worrying. It was also very close to the bridge over the M6.
“There were a few people already out looking but no sightings were reported. A local man with a drone was also out looking.”
Eamont Bridge farmer Les Grainger said he had seen Buddy around 9.30am in his lonning, but Buddy had turned around and run back on to the road — then across the road into a big field.
“This breed tend to hide when lost, and he was tiny,” said Carol. “As we kept checking back at the crash site in case he returned — the farmer took a walk into the field where Buddy had run to. Right at the bottom was a pile of rubble and he was hiding in there.”
Mr Grainger managed to pick him up and carry him back. Buddy was said to be hungry and tired and shaking, but otherwise well.
Carol said: “I had made contact with a family member and she arranged friends to travel and pick Buddy up.
“When dogs are lost there is always fantastic turn out from locals. Its like an invisible network of dog lovers always turn out to help. They often spend days and nights looking for lost dogs until they are found.
“I always take advice from Lee Herron, of Lost Dogs Dumfries and Galloway. She knows so much about capturing lost and scared dogs and how they can react. She is responsible for so many dogs being successfully caught and saved. There is a specific way to do this.
“Thank you to everyone who was out looking all day. An amazing happy ending. All credit to Mr Grainger for finding him.
“It was a massive relief for the owners who were both badly injured and in hospital — so totally unable to help with any search. Poor Buddy was out there alone.”
Officers are appealing for witnesses to the crash or anyone with dashcam footage to get in touch. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police on 101.
