Search and rescue dog who went missing over Christmas found safe and well

Juno, an adult German shorthaired Pointer who helps find missing people for Norfolk Lowland Search and Rescue, went missing on December 23rd while out for a walk in Fritton Wood, Norfolk.

More than 85 concerned searchers and support members from Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent, Buckinghamshire, and Cambridgeshire were involved in finding her.

Meanwhile, a social media appeal to help find the dog reached a whopping 500,000 people.

After an extensive search, Juno was spotted by a drone team shortly before 11.30am on Monday morning, not far from where she went missing on the banks of the River Waveney, near Gorleston-on-Sea.

A boat team then recovered her and took her to a nearby slipway, where she was greeted by her handler Ian Danks and taken to the vets for a checkup.

Juno’s owner Ian was “incredibly emotional” that she was found alive and well after he had been out looking for her every day.

He told BBC News: “I've been incredibly emotional. She doesn't look bad, does she? We've got lots of leftover turkey, so she can have that, after a trip to the vets.”

And Norfolk Lowland Search and Rescue confirmed that the pup was “in great spirits” after her checkup at the vets.

“Her paws are slightly sore but she is now on her way back home,” they added.

Concerned dog lovers were delighted to hear that Juno had been located and returned to her owner, with one commenter writing: “Congratulations to all those folk who searched, tweeted, drones (sic) and posted you all did what you could to find her, I am thrilled she is OK and her dad must be so happy.”

Another added: “Pawsome news - that's brightened up Christmas. Well done all search teams involved.”