A lost dog has been hailed a "wonder pup" after walking himself home five miles across a busy city while his owner searched for him. Pip wandered off while chasing squirrels on a walk with owner, Libby Bowles, 47.
And while she spent 90 minutes searching for him in Leigh Woods, in Bristol, the pup took to the streets, and strolled home. He was caught on CCTV during his 4.6-mile walk home, which included a stroll across Clifton Suspension Bridge. The pooch arrived home 20 minutes before Libby did - after she'd taken to local lost and found groups to track him down, on September 18.
Locals posted updates and CCTV grabs as he was spotted travelling across the city - outside his old home, in the park, and outside a local museum.
Pip, a pedenco, is a rabbit hunting hound rescued from Spain.
Now a therapy dog, he is well-known around Bristol because he sits in Libby's backpack as she cycles around the city.
Libby said: "The thing is, he's very calm and placid unless there's something furry to chase.
"He's run off before but he's always come back, so when he didn't I was quite worried.
"I spent an hour going up and down our walking route looking for him, and luckily ran into some friends who went round to the other side of the woods to see if they could find him.
"They actually did see him, but then at the last minute he zipped away from them under a fence."
His escape sparked a city-wide chase, and he was captured on CCTV in several places across the city, trotting along the pavement unaware of the search party.
Ms Bowles said: "At first I thought 'how on earth is he going to cross Bristol by himself?'
"But thankfully Pip has a good nose - he often takes me to his dog friends' houses on our walks.
"The dog community in Bristol is amazing, so I put him in one of the groups and I got constant updates of where he was seen.
"He went back to our old flat, past Bristol museum, literally all over Bristol.
"Eventually he was seen in the park near our house, so I breathed a sigh of relief because I knew he should be able to get home from there.
"I called our neighbours and they were all waiting for him when he got back.
"He apparently trotted round the corner fairly nonchalant. He had all his dog friends and lots of treats waiting for him."
Pip once belonged to a hunter in Spain.
After being found on the streets, he was rescued and adopted by Libby, who works in sustainability education.
Pip is now a therapy dog, and is part of a programme called Read2Dogs - where children can read to him rather than adults to boost their literacy skills.
Libby said: "I used to be a primary school teacher and I think it's such a valuable exercise, it has a profound effect on confidence in the classroom.
"I'm writing some books about Pip and his adventures, so kids can read to Pip about all his exciting stories."
Do you have a dog story to share? Email paige.freshwater@reachplc.com.
