Reunited: Black Cocker Spaniel Male

Sightings and Information

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2015-12-12 09:26 JulieH

Keeping a spaniel calm and resting is an art in itself ! hope Thomas makes a quick recovery x

2015-12-07 08:24 DogLostSpringerMad - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

Fantastic news! Fingers crossed that he will soon be back to normal.Thank you for the update Ian.

2015-12-04 21:55 ian1066

**Thomas update ** I spoke with the vet today and it appears Thomas may not need any operations after all. He is continuing to regain weight and is now putting his injured back leg down some more when he walks. As long as he isn't over-walked but kept relatively calm (as calm as a spaniel can be!) he should be fine. Thank you so much to everyone for helping to reunite us.

2015-11-29 19:39 DogLostZoe - Area Volunteer - East Sussex

Thank you for the update Ian. Poor boy, but at least he is safe now and has seen the vet. Wishing him a speedy recovery and wishing him well when he has his operations. X

2015-11-29 16:53 DogLostSharon - Social Media Volunteer

Welcome home Thomas, hoping for a swift recovery. X

2015-11-29 13:14 Rose

So pleased he has been found but sorry to learn he has been hit by a car and will need an operation. x

2015-11-28 21:49 Paddy

At least he is home - Get well soon xxxx

2015-11-27 21:43 DogLostSpringerMad - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

Oh Ian, I am sorry to hear that Thomas has those injuries. What a worry for you. Hopefully they will be able to get him back to full health. Not easy keeping a spaniel resting though! Thank you for updating us, and please continue to let us know how he is getting along. Wishing him well x

2015-11-27 20:18 Jenny & Tiga k9tracker

So pleased to see Thomas is home safely despite his injuries- sounds like one tough cookie. Thanks for the texts this morning Clarkey & SpringerMad.
At leas Tiga won't have to track Thomas on Monday. Well done all of you, all your hard work paid off.

2015-11-27 20:05 Rachel

Bless him, so glad he is back home safe and sound, hope he recovers quickly x

2015-11-27 19:45 ian1066

Thank you everyone for your kind words. Just to update you. It would appear Thomas was hit by a car, but the vet wasn't able to work out when that happened. He has fractured his pelvis in two places and has injured his back leg. The back leg, and possibly the pelvis, will need an operation to repair in January when the inflammation has gone down. He obviously is thinner than when we last saw him but he's enjoying his food and is in good spirits, in spite of his ordeal, still wanting to run
around and jump. He is on painkillers and anti-inflammatories and will rest and recuperate at home. He will be fine. He's one tough cookie! Thank you all so much for playing your part in getting him back.

2015-11-27 19:24 slabcabbage

Wonderful news welcome home Thomas xx

2015-11-27 18:22 angi

really pleased the gorgeous Thomas has been found and hope he recovers well from his injuries xxx

2015-11-27 16:40 JulieH

Brilliant news! so pleased :)

2015-11-27 16:13 kjane85

Just logged on to see if any updates - fantastic news, I hope Thomas has a speedy recovery :)

2015-11-27 14:02 DogLostJayne - Founder Doglost.

Great news!

2015-11-27 12:47 Lesley

A happy ending, I am so pleased. Cuddles for Thomas and lots of TLC x

2015-11-27 11:53 Clarkey - Area Co-ordinator, East Sussex

You are very welcome Ian .. that's what we are all here for. You did a good job searching and postering as well. Posters usually work and I am so glad they did this time!
We are all really hoping that the injuries are not too bad and that Thomas will recover soon. Do let us know.
Look forward to seeing a reunited photo when you get your lad home.
Gentle hug to Thomas when he comes home from the vet later today.

2015-11-27 10:57 ian1066

Firstly, thank you to all of you for helping find Thomas. Your advice, posters, leafleting and support has been amazing and I'm so grateful. Thomas is now with the vet being treated for his leg injury. So happy that he was found, thanks to someone seeing one of your posters and spotting him. Thank you, thank you.

2015-11-27 09:35 DogLostZoe - Area Volunteer - East Sussex

So pleased to see Thomas reunited - well done to Clarkey, TK & Springermad as always for your efforts :-) Please, please keep Thomas safe now....he may not be so lucky next time.

2015-11-27 08:40 TK - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

So so pleased he has been found safe and well, hope his injury is not too bad ....
Stay safe now Thomas, no more adventures ...! x

2015-11-27 08:38 DogLostSpringerMad - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

Fantastic news!!! So pleased.

2015-11-27 08:38 DogLostMillypod (Chris) - Administrative Volunteer

YAY :)) Great news. Welcome home Thomas.xx

Hope all goes well at the vets. Hugs.

2015-11-27 08:36 Doglover

Fantastic news that he has been found. I hope he is ok after his visit to the Vets. Stay safe now Thomas. xxxxxx

2015-11-27 08:29 Clarkey - Area Co-ordinator, East Sussex

Whooo hooo!
Thomas has been found and is safe at home with Ian. He was found behind an outbuilding this morning by someone who rang Ian as they had seen his poster.
Thomas has a gash on one of his legs but seems to be ok. Sounds like he had been hit by a car and then run off to hide. He is on his way to the vets and I am sure Ian will update us to how he is later on.
So, so pleased this was a happy ending!
Well done to Ian and all who helped share, poster and search.

2015-11-26 16:31 DogLostSpringerMad - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

I have messaged Jenny. She has been away tracking but will advise us when she is able.

2015-11-26 16:23 Skywalker99

what about Jenny and Tiga? www.k9tracker.co.uk

2015-11-26 16:10 ian1066

Thank you, everyone, for all your help. You are amazing and we're so grateful for your support. Can't believe it's been a week since Thomas went missing.

2015-11-26 16:02 Clarkey - Area Co-ordinator, East Sussex

Thanks Jayne.
Thanks Springermad and TK. Extra alerts have gone out now. That gives us more to work on.
An ad on a selling page has been checked out but Ian confirms that it is not Thomas.
Will keep fingers crossed that the posters put up will bring some news in of Thomas.

2015-11-26 12:06 DogLostSpringerMad - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

Message from a friend who has walked in Poppinghole lane this morning. No sign.

2015-11-26 12:05 DogLostJayne - Founder Doglost.

Further alerts sent.

2015-11-26 12:01 Clarkey - Area Co-ordinator, East Sussex

Admin: As Thomas lives in Cranbrook and is known to go quite a way please would you send out email alerts to TN5, TN17,TN18,TN19 and TN35.

2015-11-26 12:01 DogLostSpringerMad - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

Just back from meeting with the owner. We have established that Thomas does enjoy a bit of a walkabout in that area, but has never been missing for more than 3 hours before. He appears to be well known by the people who live around there. Thomas does not return of his own accord, but people who find him tend to call Ian who goes out to bring him back.

Thomas has made his way into properties on both junction road, and the Staplecross road nea the Shrub Centre. No sightings at all since he went missing around 6pm last thursday.

If Thomas was picked up by a passer by, he could have been taken anywhere towards Hawkhurst, Cranbrook, Maidstone, or down towards Hastings.

If anyone has seen Thomas or noticed someone who has got a new black cocker in the past week, please contact Doglost.

We have postered much of the area, and will continue to do house to house leaflets in the coming days.

2015-11-26 11:49 TK - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

Hi Admin, please could you widen the email alert area to include Hawkkhurst, Cranbrook, Kent areas as far as Maidstone also please can you increase the Sussex area also... If Thomas has been picked up, he could have been taken out of area, although we still need to search andd poster local area too...
Thank You

2015-11-26 11:49 TK - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

Met up with owner and Springermad this am, will let them do update ..

Last edited: 2015-11-26 11:50:48 by TK - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

2015-11-26 11:15 Clarkey - Area Co-ordinator, East Sussex

Sitting at home very annoyed! Got in car to go to poster and search with Ian, Springermad and TK and it was totally dead. No electrics at all! So I am stuck at home along with the posters and lots of ideas to help find Thomas ...
However, have just had a chat with them and they are doing a good job postering and knocking on doors, searching etc.
I will leave Springermad and TK to update with details of any extra info we have of Thomas and places postered.
I have also added the new, clearer photo of Thomas that Ian has given me.

Reminder:
If you or anyone you know has taken Thomas in please note that they are REQUIRED BY LAW to report finding him to the Dog Wardens. Failure to do so is considered to be 'theft by finding'

*** If you know where Thomas is please contact Doglost in TOTAL CONFIDENCE on 0844 800 3220.

Thomas is a pet, not a working dog .. he is much missed and his family will NOT give up looking for him.

2015-11-25 19:40 Clarkey - Area Co-ordinator, East Sussex

I have just adjusted the photo a bit so that it is lighter .. seems to come out better on the poster now. Struggling with our printer at the mo but at least it is working again altho not much ink left in it!
Ian: We will meet you tomorrow 10am as arranged.

2015-11-25 17:48 DogLostSpringerMad - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

Hi Ian, I am just trying to print some posters up for tomorrow. The picture you have of Thomas doesn't show up very well on the poster. It is all very dark with a dark dog! Would you have another one you could upload?

2015-11-25 16:10 ian1066

Just want to add that the people who run the pet shop at Cripps Corner have told me that there has been quite a lot of dogknapping in the local area. We think Thomas may have been taken by someone who thinks he's a gun dog. Although he's technically a "working cocker" he's a family pet not a working dog.

Last edited: 2015-11-25 19:17:28 by ian1066

2015-11-25 15:53 ian1066

Hi, thanks for those suggestions. We haven't leafleted all the houses in that area but quite a few and most people have even said they would put them up locally, a farmer said she'd keep an eye out for him and let her neighbours know, etc. Thomas himself is a big personality and not a shy, nervous type. He's used to animals of all sorts. He's very friendly and loves people and attention, unlike our other dog whose nature is quieter and a bit nervy. If Thomas had wandered as far as you think, he'd certainly have been discovered or made himself known to humans. He's not a quiet, shy type. It is precisely because he is so friendly and would not have wondered too far that we believe someone stopped by the roadside and picked him up. He was very good at crossing roads/streetwise so unlikely to have been cowered by a car, or hit by one. He has escaped before and whenever he has, people have been honest enough to call me. His name, and my number, are on his collar and he's microchipped, so could easily be reunited with us.

Thank you to everyone who is helping to look for him and for all the shares on Facebook and Twitter. We're very grateful.

2015-11-25 14:23 Clarkey - Area Co-ordinator, East Sussex

Thanks Ian. I have added that there is a reward for Thomas so that it appears on the poster. Very glad to hear Highways have not found any dogs recently.

Have you managed to search Hazel wood in the 'triangle' of B2089/B244 Junction Rd/Compasses Lane? Also have all the houses in that area got posters? I know you believe Thomas may have been stolen but I do wonder if he has got himself stuck in the woods somewhere. It's very important to keep searching in case he has not been taken (it's very unusual in this area) .. so many fields and a loads of woodland in the area as well as barns etc on farms. If he had been scared by a car on the road he would probably have run off scared and found himself lost. There's also the possibility that he may have got stuck in someone's garden and not be able to get out.

2015-11-24 16:14 DogLostSpringerMad - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

Loads of share going round on fb. Will try to get down for another look tomorrow.

2015-11-24 13:53 TK - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

Hi, am in TN37, just seen posts on fb ...
so sorry to hear he is still missing, hoping gor some good news soon..
will share on fb

2015-11-24 12:42 ian1066

Just to update you, Thomas still missing. I contacted the Highways Agency and they hadn't recovered a body. I am now offering £100 reward for the safe return of Thomas. The amount does not reflect his value to us, as he's priceless and much-missed, but I am not financially able to offer a very large reward, unfortunately. Maybe the reward will be a slight incentive to get him back safely.

2015-11-23 19:26 ian1066

Nothing to report. Thomas escaped from a hole in the fence at the back of Direct Recovery and went down the bank that leads into Junction Road. He's done this once before and was found by a local lady. The fact that there hasn't been a dog's body by the roadside or in the vicinity would lend weight to our theory that someone driving past stopped to pick him up. He's very friendly and would easily have got into a car or van. If we were to look at CCTV it would have to be along Junction Road, near the bridge, which is near the bank he escaped down, but unfortunately, there's no CCTV there. On the night he disappeared, I drove around the local area, looking out for him, or a dog's body by the roadside but there was nothing.

2015-11-23 18:45 Clarkey - Area Co-ordinator, East Sussex

Any news on Thomas? Am hoping that he was with the Dog Wardens today as I am sure you are.
I just want to clarify that he went missing from Direct Recovery ..think that's right isn't it?
Also wondering if there were any particular vehicles visiting at the time and whether they have any CCTV/security cameras there that you could check?
If you have not got him back today then I am rather concerned that there have been no sightings at all.
The other thing is, and I hate having to say this, but have you contacted the Highways Dept to check that they have not picked up any dogs? They, hopefully, would scan any dogs involved in RTA's but not all do.

If no news at all today then the best advice I can give is to get posters out everywhere and anywhere you can think of .. if someone has Thomas then sooner or later they will see a poster (or a neighbour may spot him with someone who previously did not have a dog)
If Thomas has been stolen then you will need to make him too hot to handle and posters are the way to do this.

2015-11-23 13:44 Clarkey - Area Co-ordinator, East Sussex

Thanks Ian and Springermad.
I'm also hoping that Thomas has been somewhere snug over the last 2 cold days. With any luck he will be with a Dog Warden today.
Or maybe because you will be there all day he will turn up back at your work when he hears some activity. Fingers crossed ..

2015-11-22 19:07 DogLostSpringerMad - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

Ian, you are doing all the right things. We are hoping that someone may have picked him up over the weekend and be looking after him until monday thinking the dog wardens, vets etc won,t be open until then. I shall be searching more this week too.

2015-11-22 15:51 ian1066

Hi. Just to update you all. Still no sign of Thomas. Today we went to Blue Cross in Nothiam and gave them a poster. He hasn't been handed in. We also gave a poster to the pub at Cripps Corner, who put it by the bar. We put a poster up at the entrance to Footland Woods and walked out other dog there. We spoke to other dog walkers there too. We went back to Cripps Corner, where Thomas's food and blanket remain untouched.

2015-11-21 17:13 Clarkey - Area Co-ordinator, East Sussex

Unfortunately not the best weather last night and today. Most dogs that are lost will hole up during this sort of weather and then come out when it dries up. As for the bedding .. not surprised but maybe you can find a sheltered place in the yard and maybe put it in a big box with some plastic over it? As long as there is something with a fresh scent of you there then his nose will lead him to it. When you go to the yard tonight or tomorrow morning it would be worth sitting car with the door open .. it has been known for a dog to come running out and back into the car when this has been done. Really hoping that Thomas is still in the area and just hiding because he is scared and keeping out of the foul weather.

2015-11-21 17:07 ian1066

Hi, thanks for that. When we checked the bedding this morning it had been blown by the wind and it was too damp to know if he'd been there but none of the food had been touched and he would certainly have gobbled it up if he'd come back. It makes us think he's no longer in the local area. We will keep trying and we certainly haven't given up and are grateful for all your help and advice.

2015-11-21 17:00 Clarkey - Area Co-ordinator, East Sussex

Well done Ian. You've done well today.
Remember to keep the bedding at the yard so that Thomas will have somewhere with a familiar smell to return to.
If Thomas has been picked up then it may be by someone who does not know that our local Dog Wardens are 24/7 service but if they see one of your posters they will at least know to who to call to get him home. However as he has a tag on his collar there should be no excuse not to call you.
I think we should still consider that he is still out somewhere in the woods. So keep postering and searching .. try checking the bed at dusk and dawn (when it's quiet) and sitting there with the engine running for a while just in case he can hear it.

If you think he has been taken then it's even more important to get as many posters out there as possible to make Thomas too hot to handle.

I did a load of Tweets last night and they have all been retweeted (Staplecross, Sedlescombe, Robertsbridge people)

Hopefully now there are posters up you will get some sightings come in.
Keeping fingers crossed that Thomas is found soon.

Last edited: 2015-11-21 17:06:52 by Clarkey - Area Co-ordinator, East Sussex

2015-11-21 16:49 ian1066

Hi. Thank you everyone. We put posters up in the Cripps Corner area, local shops in Staplecross and Sedlescombe, at Sedelscombe Vineyards and a bus stop at Cripps Corner. We leafleted some local houses and one lady offered to put a Bruce up in the village hall. We put posters up on telephone poles in 5 different directions from Cripps Corner and at three entrances to Brede High Woods. Also my son walked our other dog through the woods but to no avail. We feel that he must've been taken by somebody either in a car or is in a house, as he's very friendly and loves people. We've also informed 5 local vets.

2015-11-21 16:30 Georgiaa-s

Just driven through and called a few times from brede to whatlington. Didn't see any posters. Just dropping my little girl to her grandparents then will drive back that way and stop again

2015-11-21 13:15 Clarkey - Area Co-ordinator, East Sussex

Thanks Springermad for the early morning search!
Hopefully Ian will have got a lot more posters out today and will update us as to where posters have been put and area he has managed to search later on. Doubt if Thomas would have been wandering about in the rain (prob holed up until it stopped)
I have a very busy weekend too and probs with electrics on the car so won't be able to go and search but will continue to give advice to Ian when needed.
I gather Thomas has gone off from the yard where Ian works before but has always come back quite quickly. However, he lives in Cranbrook so Thomas does not know the area.

2015-11-21 06:52 DogLostSpringerMad - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

Sadly nothing to report, but would recommend posters at Footland Wood if not already done, as very popular and local dog walking area. Am very busy this weekend, but if I get chance to print some posters off and head over again I will.

2015-11-21 05:44 DogLostSpringerMad - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

Going for a drive around the area now, whilst it is still nice and quiet. (thanks for your text Clarkey)

2015-11-20 19:57 Clarkey - Area Co-ordinator, East Sussex

Thanks Ian.
Have sent email advice to you re searching, leaving scent items (bedding/unwashed socks/tshirts etc) so that Thomas has some familiar scent to settle down with when he returns.
Suggest loads of posters in case someone has taken him in locally .. not everyone knows that our Dog Wardens are a 24/7 service. Would be wise to inform Shepway Dog Wardens as well in case someone passing through area found him and took him to their home outside area and then reported finding him.
Posters will also bring in any sightings of Thomas so try to get as many as possible up in the area.
Thanks Springermad and
Sharon .. I have done some Tweets tonight as well (Who are you on there please?)
Thanks for the offer Georgiaa-s: Perhaps you would text Ian to see if he would like some help?
Best of luck .. and hopefully he will return to the yard by tomorrow.

Last edited: 2015-11-20 21:53:07 by Clarkey - Area Co-ordinator, East Sussex

2015-11-20 19:34 ian1066

Hi,
He went missing around 6pm on Thursday 19 from the recovery yard pet shop, if any won has seen him please let me know .
Thankyou Ian

2015-11-20 17:47 DogLostSharon - Social Media Volunteer

I have shared with doglost FB group & Twitter. Hope Thomas is safely back at home soon. x

2015-11-20 12:33 DogLostSpringerMad - Area Volunteer, East Sussex

Shared, could we have a little more info on how Thomas went missing please? Hope he is home shortly.

2015-11-20 11:58 Georgiaa-s

TN31 alert received. Do we know if he was lost out walking? No the area well, happy to help x

2015-11-20 10:30 DogLostJayne - Founder Doglost.

Alerts sent to helpers in TN31,32,33.