The dog that came in from the cold

Published on Tuesday 30 March 2010 23:09

A RUNAWAY sheepdog survived in the wild through the harshest winter in living memory on Shetland on a diet of rabbits – and one stolen chicken.

• Runaway sheepdog Tess survived one of the harshest winters in living memory on Shetland. Picture: Nicki Oliver, Border Collie Rescue.

Details of the remarkable survival of Tess the sheepdog were only made public by Shetland Islands Council after the dog was eventually caught by environmental health officers.

She had eluded dog wardens for four months, living wild on the rugged terrain of Stanley Hill, on the outskirts of Lerwick.

Tess was finally caught after council officials arranged for a dog trap to be shipped to the islands. And the former runaway is now said to be recovering well from her four-month ordeal in a dog rescue centre in Yorkshire.

Maggie Dunne, a spokeswoman for the council's environmental health department, said details of the dog's "eventful winter", living wild on Stanley Hill, could finally be told.

She explained: "Tess was initially owned as a sheepdog, but when she was found to be 'not much good', a crofter was going to dispose of her.

"She was then taken in as a pet, but escaped within a week. The owners let the dog wardens know that she'd escaped, but they couldn't catch her. She spent four months out in the Stanley Hill area this winter.

"She was roaming freely and feeding on rabbits, but was too spooked to come near other dogs or the dog wardens."

Ms Dunne continued: "The dog wardens were then notified that she had stolen a chicken from a house at Unicorn View at Christmas and had been returning to the area looking for more food, and howling in the night to attract attention."

The wardens asked the householder to start leaving food for the dog to encourage Tess to feed regularly at his home and then arranged for a dog trap to be shipped to Shetland from Aberdeenshire Council.

Said Ms Dunne: "Within two hours of the trap being set, the dog was caught."

Tess was taken to a vet, where she was examined before being taken to the council kennels to be nurtured back to full health.

Ms Dunne explained: "She needed treatment and very careful handling, as she was scared of contact with humans after being wild for so long."

She went on: "Dog wardens try to find new homes for stray dogs, but no-one the dog wardens knew of was suitable in Shetland to take her, as she as she needed lots of time and attention."

Tess, however, has found a new home at a Border Collie Rescue Centre in Yorkshire.

Said Ms Dunne: "The rescue centre has confirmed that she has settled in nicely, and the environmental health team are delighted that she is on the way to finding a good home."

• For more information on the rescue of Tess and to watch a video about her progress, visit www.bordercollierescue.org/tess