A heat-seeking camera is being used by an Argyll community to search for a missing family dog which may me trapped down a rabbit hole.
Rowan, a Jack Russell and Patterdale terrier cross, vanished during a walk with owner Sandra Muir at Ganavan sands, Oban, on Tuesday morning – her daughter Sarah’s 22nd birthday.
Ms Muir, of Hynish Crescent in Oban, said Rowan often chases rabbits in nearby bracken and long grass – but on this occasion failed to return.
The 50-year-old remains optimistic about finding her two-year-old pet, which is black and white with fluffy fur, even if it means waiting for Rowan losing weight to escape.
Ms Muir, who lives at home with her younger daughter, Mirren, said: “I love my dogs and I am not going to stop looking for Rowan.
“She’s not the sort of dog that runs away and has never attempted it. Even if the back gate was left open she would not go through it.
“It’s the going home at night and realising that she is not there which is the worst, because she is a good little dog and so friendly. If she was not stuck in a hole we would know about it.”
In the past three days, friends and family have spread word on social media and contacted members of the local mountain rescue team, fire service, police and local builders in a bid to locate Rowan.
And yesterday one local woman, Karen Delaney, brought a “heat seeking” camera down to a field thought to contain more than 100 rabbit holes.
Hopes were high yesterday when the camera picked up a sign but, after extensive digging, nothing was found.
On Tuesday Ms Muir even recorded the sound of her own doorbell, the only sound which triggers Rowan’s barking, then played it back through a portable loudspeaker above the rabbit holes.
More than 30 people were involved in search efforts yesterday, and a team of local builders also went down to the site to help speed up the digging process.
Ms Muir added: “Oban’s not the smallest place but everyone has really come together and is trying really hard.
“People have been really positive about it and everyone seems to know someone whose dog has been stuck down a rabbit hole. I’ve seen websites where an owner said their dog was stuck for a month, but lost a third of its body weight and came out and got home.”
Anyone who finds or thinks they may have seen Rowan should contact Ms Muir on 07872 885556.
