An appeal has gone out for a firm to make a large trap for East Anglian dog rescue charities to use following the success story of volunteers who caught a stray saluki who had been running loose around Wisbech for four weeks.
Two dog charities teamed up to borrow a large humane trap from a wolf dog rescue group in Rugby and using bait of turkey legs, chicken, bacon, sausages, tuna and tripe successfully managed to catch the timid dog late last night (Thursday 29).
The saluki, affectionately nicknamed Harry Drifter, is now in foster care where he is being fed and given tender loving care as he is nursed back to full health and learns to trust his carers.
Lindsey Forrest and Rachel Richardson of Shamen’s Legacy organised a search on Sunday and in the week Ms Richardson along with Shelley Ridgeon and Fenland District Council’s dog warden Caroline Trigg of Ravenswood Pet Rescue joined forces to lay the trap on the land of a villager in Wisbech St Mary.
Using plenty of food they baited the trap for the first time on Tuesday night.
Mrs Ridgeon said: “He got the food but the trap didn’t go off so he ran away.
“The trap was re-baited with food, including turkey legs donated from March Quality Meats in March. but as the door came down his bum was half out so he wriggled backwards and ran off.”
The trap was baited yet again but at 9.30pm last night rescuers gave up for the night and went home.
Just 15 minute later, however, they had a call from the landowner saying the dog was safely inside the trap and the mission had been successful.
Mrs Ridgeon said: “The dog is smelly and dirty but other than that is in surprisingly good condition. He is wearing a red collar but we have no idea how he came to be wandering like this.
“He is bewildered but not aggressive, so we are all confident he will make a good recovery from his ordeal.”
It is hoped that they can now begin fund raising for a special trap to be made - hopefully by a local firm.
If you can help contact them via their rescue Facebook pages or via Wisbech Free Discussion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here