'Missing' dog Ruby is found after disappearance at motorway services
Sophie Macaskill says she is "absolutely made up" with the development after her dog Ruby went missing from Rivington Services near Chorley over a week ago.
The dog was found after police received information saying the dog had been spotted at a caravan site in Bolton.
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Hide AdA rescue operation was launched and owner Sophie and was reunited with her dog on Tuesday.
She said: "I am so happy, words cannot express how grateful I am to have her back.
"We woke up really early this morning, it felt better than Christmas - we've gone from having no hope at all to her coming home.
"A policeman rang me to say they had some information as to where she was and they were going to get her.
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Hide Ad"I was just shaking, crying and hoping when I heard the news.
"Ruby's very tired and she's done nothing but sleep since she came home."
The dog was taken to the vets for a thorough check-up and Sophie was believes Ruby will be ok following her traumatic experience.
Sophie said: "She just seems so relieved to be home."
"I'm just so glad she was found when she was, I don't think she was coping very well.
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Hide Ad"PC Blakeley from Greater Manchester Police delivered her to me yesterday. I am absolutely made up.
"I need to say a massive thank you to PC Matthew Blakeley and to the Neighbourhood and Community teams at both the Lancashire and Greater Manchester police forces.
"I'd also like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has shared this story."
A police spokesman said: "We were told Ruby had been stolen from Rivington Service Station on the M61 last Sunday."We started an investigation and launched a social media appeal which was shared more than 8,000 times and was seen by almost two million people."Ruby was seen on a caravan site in Bolton on Tuesday and we liaised with colleagues at the RSPCA and Greater Manchester Police to rescue her."By 4pm Ruby was safe and reunited with her owner."This is fantastic news and we would like to thank everyone who shared our appeal to get Ruby home."We'd like to wish Ruby and Sophie a very happy Christmas and are delighted to see them reunited."
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Hide AdSophie launched a frantic social media campaign after discovering her beloved mini-dachshund was missing at the services.
The dog owner was travelling home to Manchester with friends when her dog was sick in the car.
She pulled over at Rivington Services to clear up the mess and and tied Ruby up outside the entrance to the services.
The dog was left for a brief period while her owner went inside to use the facilities. When Sophie returned her dog had gone.
Nobody has been arrested in connection with the incident.