A distraught ambulance worker has told how she can’t give up on her beloved dog almost a month after he went missing on a Loch Lomond peak.
Natalie Crawford was separated from Gizmo when clouds descended on Beinn Ime on Thursday, June 17, at around 10.30am.
She had to bring herself off the hill that evening having searched in vain
for dog.
She has since spent almost every day looking for him and has even been dreaming of being reunited with the Staffordshire bull terrier.
Natalie, who works with the Scottish Ambulance Service, is appealing for anyone with any information about Gizmo’s possible whereabouts to get in touch.
She told the Lennox Herald how distraught she has been since his disappearance on the Arrochar Alps.
Natalie said: “I have been searching for him nearly every day since he went missing.
“I just can’t give up on him.
“We have checked around the summit and all of the crags on the summit as best we can. There is no evidence he has been caught up there or been stuck.
“We don’t think he’s still on the mountain. It’s just a total mystery.
“I am exhausted. I have never been this exhausted physically and mentally.
“It’s the hardest thing I have ever had to go through.
“It’s just me and Gizmo. We got separated in the clouds really. It was just horrible. I can replay every single second of that day.”
Natalie has left clothes of hers in the area in the hope that Gizmo will recognise her scent, installed cameras and asked for assistance from the local mountain rescue team who are keeping a watch when they can.
She is also pleading with local people to keep their eyes peeled for her pet.
Natalie said: “I just want to keep him fresh in people’s minds. There will be new walkers to the area and the surrounding areas.
“Because there has been absolutely no trace of him, there is the possibility that someone has maybe taken him and I just want to raise awareness.
“If someone sees a dog similar to him out being walked somewhere please get in touch. I would like to think nobody has taken him but it is a real possibility given all of the dog thefts recently.”
The Lennox Herald reported in March how a woman had been assault in the west end of Dumbarton with the culprit attempting to steal her dog.
And Balloch woman Michelle Boyd gained support from thousands of people for her petition to hand tougher sentences to those stealing
pets following a spike in the offences.
Anyone with any information on Gizmo or who thinks they could help searching for him can call Natalie on 07903 484 385.
You can also get in touch or follow updates via the Facebook page Gizmo missing Beinn Ime.
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