A family's desperate search to find their missing beagle dog has ended happily - and on Friday the 13th! As reported in the Observer recently, the Riley family's dog 'Merlin' disappeared after being stung by a wasp at Wiseman's Bridge on July 30. His distressed owners who were on holiday from Staffordshire at the time combed the area looking for him and handed out over 200 flyers in shops and to members of the public appealing for sightings. The Observer also publicised their plight. But on Friday, after no sightings for two weeks, he was found stuck in the orchard at Mr. Sean Phillips's home at Llwynon, Stepaside. "I had a call to say that a dog could be heard barking in this area, so I called at the house and asked to check the orchard," said 'Merlin's' owner Sarah. "Mrs. Phillips told me how overgrown it all was and how difficult it would be to look there, so I went around to adjoining fields to see if I could get access any easier and kept calling his name, but I couldn't get any closer, so I went back towards the house, just as Mrs. Phillips was coming to get me to say they could see him," she continued. "Mr. Phillips had come out with his scythe and was cutting down the brambles to clear a path. "I kept thinking 'can it really be him after all this time?' and I just couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him. "He was barking and very frightened, but I managed to lure him out with some food having to be very patient," she explained. "Eventually we got him back to the house and he seemed very relieved to have something to eat and drink!" Although very thin, 'Merlin' is in quite good spirits and his owners only wish he could talk to tell them about his two-week adventure! "The vet said he seemed well after his ordeal," added Sarah, who is delighted 'Merlin', who was rescued from an animal charity only four weeks before he went missing, is now back at home with her and her family in Tamworth, Staffordshire. "We would like to thank everyone who spent time looking for 'Merlin' while they were walking. There was tremendous support from the public and I think he is now quite a celebrity in the area where he was missing," said Sarah. "You have a wonderful community spirit in South Pembrokeshire and should be proud. "I would especially like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Harold Palmer, of Stepaside, and Tim and Tracey Hoad, of Pleasant Valley, who came out with me on all of the false alarms over the last two weeks and gave me total support. "Also Alison from the Tourist Information Centre in Saundersfoot who did everything above and beyond her duties to help, and of course to Mr. and Mrs. Phillips for allowing me to trample their land in order to rescue my dog. "Who said Friday the 13th is unlucky?"
