A runaway Scots dog lost for four days followed its nose and managed to find its way back to its owner by tracing the scent of her dressing gown.
Michelle Morris had offered a £2,000 reward for her two-year-old Boston Terrier, Olive, who ran off from her home at Airlie, near Kirriemuir on Sunday.
A massive hunt was launched for the hound.
Volunteers with sniffer dogs failed to find the missing mutt and in the end, it was the smell of her owner’s favourite dressing gown which helped bring Olive safely home.
The bedraggled black and white terrier found its own way back to Michelle on Wednesday afternoon.
The 36-year-old said she just burst into tears when the family pooch appeared on the horizon and walked into her waiting arms.
After four days, and with hope fading, Michelle was overjoyed when she received a reported sighting of Ollie on Wednesday morning.
“The people from the Missing Pets Dundee and Angus Facebook group have been fantastic,” said Michelle.
“They advised me to put out trails with my scent on it from items that I’d wear or have at home.
“Another girl who lives in the area sighted her and I got down there with my dressing gown.”
Michelle added: “I was out in the fields and the local gamekeeper was there at the time, and she just appeared,”
“I didn’t want to scare her by shouting at her so I just sat down at her level and she came right to me.
“It was so amazing to have her back - I just burst into tears.
“She looked thin and her wee nose was a bit red, but now she’s back home she seems really happy in herself.
“She’ll be getting lots of cuddles.”
Michelle said her children, 14-year-old Saul and Jett, 3, were thrilled to have their pet home.
And she paid tribute to everyone who had helped with the search and spread the word about missing pet.
“We have lived up here for a year and everyone from this area has been fantastic,” she continued.
“The searchers with their sniffer dogs and the Facebook group people have been amazing and I hope to be able to make a donation to them to help them."
