Many of you will have seen the appeal earlier this week from a worried dog owner. Ashley Tolmie posted on Facebook, via Scottish Hill Walking & Wild Camping. The post went viral and was shared by more than 25,000 people.
She wrote: “I was wondering if anyone could help. Yesterday my dog went missing on Ben Vane in Loch Lomond area after my partner had to be air lifted from it after falling.
“He is a two year old boxer named Jax. I beg of anyone who is walking in the area to keep an eye for him. We are devastated and would love a safe return. We are worried sick please share if you can any information. Please contact…”
Then a post came on to my Facebook profile today from a friend. It turns out that Alex Slipchuk had been planning a hill walk today and decided to look instead for Jax. He arranged to meet another walker, Chris Miles, who was a FB friend of the owner and is also a member of Lomond Mountaineering Club.
Together they searched the less walked areas of Ben Vane and came across the dog. Jax has now been reunited with his owners (after he was treated two all three of Alex’s salami sandwiches!).
On FB Ashley said: “I still can’t thank you [Alex] and Chris enough for ur help and support. You are absolute stars and great guys xxx.”
What a heart-warming tale of kindness and outdoors Scotland support.
The rescued walker
A spokesman for Arrochar MRT said: “[We attended] a call-out on Ben Vane at 1.45pm on Sunday for a walker who had slipped and fallen due to fresh snow cover.
“A stretcher evacuation down steep slippery ground brought him to a safer area from where he was taken to hospital. Unfortunately, despite a search, an accompanying dog could not be located.”
Paw prints were spotted in the area near where Jax was abandoned on Monday and dog walkers were asked to watch out for the boxer.