A pet owner is celebrating a miraculous reunion with her dog after the two-year-old dachshund, Mabel, escaped near Leigh Delamare services and ran onto the busy M4 motorway in Wiltshire.
Lucy Rogers, 23, was shaken when Mabel slipped her collar and darted into oncoming traffic near Chippenham. The terrifying moment prompted a frantic search involving passersby and police officers, but despite their efforts, Mabel vanished from sight.
Lucy, traveling with her partner Jordan, both aged 23, shared her distress: “I was just screaming and didn’t know what to do. When a small dog runs near a motorway, your mind immediately goes to the worst case scenario. We truly didn’t know if we would see her again.”
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The couple spent the day scouring nearby areas before enlisting help from DroneSAR for Lost Dogs, a volunteer charity. Lucy praised the group’s professionalism: “They were calm, organised, and incredibly knowledgeable. Their use of thermal drone technology allowed them to search areas we couldn’t reach and gave us vital advice on how to avoid frightening Mabel further.”
After 30 hours, Mabel was spotted in a field near a livery yard in Kington St Michael. Lucy carefully crossed a waterlogged field and waited patiently for the frightened dog to calm down with guidance from the volunteers. Using soothing words and tempting her with chicken, Lucy coaxed Mabel from her hiding spot.
At around 8:30 pm, Mabel finally ran into Lucy’s arms. “The moment she saw me, she came straight over, jumped up, and started licking my face. It honestly felt like a miracle,” Lucy said. “It was pure relief. Until that moment, I didn’t realize how much the ordeal had affected me. Having her safe felt surreal.”
Lucy expressed deep gratitude for the support the family received. “The volunteers give up their time at very short notice to help complete strangers in distress. We are incredibly thankful for their expertise, reassurance, and dedication. Without them, I don’t believe we would have had the same happy ending.”