Massive support from fellow dog lovers has restored family’s faith in human nature

A SEATON family say their faith in humans has been restored – thanks to a dog.

Emma and Stephen Grigg, from Highwell Road, were left distraught after Doug, their much loved black Labrador, went missing.

But they were overwhelmed by the number of friends - and even total strangers - who piled in to help track down their missing hound.

They reckon some 1,200 joined the hunt before they finally found him.

Hairdresser Mrs Grigg said: “We put a few feelers out in the hunt for him and didn’t realise the enormity of support we were going to get.

“The community railed together to help us in our hour of need and proved that community spirit not only exists but thrives when you really need them.

“We had complete strangers putting out posters, walking their dogs all over the county and a Facebook page dedicated to him, which received over 870 members.”

Doug was eventually found after residents at a nursing home in Old Beer Road, who had a read one of his missing posters put out by neighbour Natalie Gribble, called to say they thought they had seen him.

Mrs Grigg went to the area and found him in a garden – tired, hungry and somewhat lighter, but having suffered no lasting damage.

She added: “The five days that Doug was missing has restored my faith in the human race and helped me realise what a special place we live in.”