Celebrations as missing Sid is found

Social media users have turned the reunion photo of Sid the Bedlington terrier and owner Catherine Omelia into an Internet hit.

Sid was found on Monday after going missing for two weeks while Catherine (42), of Church Lane, Maltby, was on holiday in London.

Sid was staying at Catherine’s parents, John and Maureen Omelia’s home in Old Ravenfield when he darted out of their car on August 2.

Hilltop school teacher Catherine said when she learned he had gone missing she had boarded the next train home and began a “military operation” to find Sid, who was like a child to her.

This involved combing through woodland near her parents from 3am, lighting barbecues in the wood to try and entice him with the smell of food, and cutting up pieces of her clothing and creating a scent trail back to her parents. 

Catherine said: “I got dog trackers involved in the search, had 1,000 leaflets and posters printed and set up a Help Find Sid Facebook page.”

Catherine said she was overwhelmed that strangers volunteered to search for Sid, and other dog walkers told her they had gone on different routes in the hope of seeing him.

She admitted she feared vulnerable Sid, who has sight and hearing problems, was dead and would not have been able to fend for himself.

But on Monday night around 9.30pm she received a call from three men who said they were on Thrybergh Lane and had spotted him in a field.

After calling out for the dog and scouring the field in the dark, Catherine said, she had nearly given up hope and walked back to her car \a where she was greeted by Sid.

She said about their emotional reunion: “I gave the lads a massive hug and one of them took a picture of us.”

The picture was seen by 33,630 people on Facebook and received 620 likes and messages of congratulations from as far afield as Australia.

Catherine added: “It’s amazing having him home, he has lost a bit of weight but is not injured.”