An English tourist has been re-united with his pet dog after it was stolen in Limerick – and he was left with no choice but to return home without his beloved border terrier Willow.
Londoner Michael O’Reilly had all but given up hope of ever seeing his pet pooch again when he contacted the Limerick Leader newspaper.
A heartbroken Michael had returned to England without Willow after the 15-year-old partially blind dog was stolen from his parked jeep in Limerick.
He spent hours searching for the dog before setting off for the ferry home to England after he had made contact with the newspaper.
The Leader printed a story outlining Michael’s predicament – and reader Alison Dillon from the city then spotted a dog matching Willow’s description as she drove into the city from her home.
“It was pitch dark, rainy and windy and I saw this small dog in my headlights. She was walking down the middle of the road. I stopped and picked her up and brought her home straight away,” Alison told the Limerick Leader.
“I could see she was a very old dog and very confused. She was wet and cold. Some days later, I read about Michael’s plight in the Limerick Leader.
“The story had his number and I rang him straight away. He was delighted and I was thrilled to have such good news for him. All’s well that end’s well.”
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A delighted Michael returned to Ireland via the next available ferry and was reunited with his beloved Willow in Limerick.
“I’d like to thank Alison for her unbelievable kindness in saving Willow. It’s a miracle she was not run over,” said Michael.
“It was very callous for those who took Willow to dump the dog on the road. She is absolutely perfect. If only she could talk and tell me the story of what happened to her.”
The story took another turn when Alison refused to accept a $700 reward Michael had offered for the safe return of Willow.
He said: “She was adamant she didn’t want it. I kept trying to give the money to her but she wouldn’t take it. It just shows you how lovely she is, a genuinely nice person.”
Alison added: “I have dogs myself and if they got lost, I’d hope somebody would do the same: I’m absolutely delighted Michael is reunited with Willow.”
5 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.merefalow | Sep 23, 2011, 07:28 AM EDT
great,good news for a change,nice ordinary kind people in the limelight ..not scuffy hoody tattood monasylabic druggy throwbacks,not that i am predudiced,
merefalow | Sep 21, 2011, 01:50 PM EDT
I think it's wonderful that there are still kind, caring people in the world who will stop and rescue an old, confused and lost dog in the rain. Too many times a lost pet is simply lost forever. I'm happy for all concerned.
antoman | Sep 21, 2011, 09:53 AM EDT
Dog goes missing. Puts week long advert in local paper appealing for the dogs return. Next day the dog shows up at the door. At the end of the week a bloke from the newspaper shows up at the door looking for money for the advert. Dog owner replies "era boy, that dog came home on his own".
Fran Connor | Sep 21, 2011, 09:42 AM EDT
Great story about two nice people. (And not a single conservative bashed!) Keep up the good work.
sirpeter | Sep 21, 2011, 09:13 AM EDT
Hang on here!!How come this guy whose name is Michael O’Reilly is English when the criminal Travellers who were born and bread in England were Irish?!!Is IC trying to give us a complex about been Irish or what?Also it sounds to me they broke into the car for something other then the dog and the dog jumped out through the broken window after or during the theft.Who would steal a 15 year old terrier.The dog was probably yapping at some hoodies and they put a rock through the window at him OR they saw the English reg and put a rock through the window OR the hoodies could have had a patriotic moment as they were reading their Irish history on the way to the pub.It could have all been avoided if he had a certificate of Irishness up in the car. ;))