A massive search was launched yesterday for a businessman missing in the Highlands – after the alarm was inadvertently raised by his dog.
Jason Gates travelled north on holiday, and had been staying in Aviemore with his treasured pet spaniel Max.
But earlier this week, the dog was caught by police after he killed a number of sheep while running loose.
Officers put out an appeal to track down Max’s owner and using the data contained in his microchip, linked him to Mr Gates.
The 36-year-old’s car was later found deserted, and with fears growing for safety, an an extensive air, land, loch and river search in and around the Drumnadrochit area was launched yesterday.
Last night, the Portsmouth accountant’s desperate family issued a heartfelt plea for him to make contact.
Speaking from the family home, his tearful father Malcolm, 67, told the Press and Journal: “He’s a very gentle guy, very thoughtful. He’s shy. He hasn’t a bad bone in his body. He and his dog are inseparable.”
In a direct plea, he said: “Please contact the police – they have your dog – and please contact us. We’re here for you.”
Malcolm, Jason’s mother Lesley, 63, sister Alison, 37, and brother Simon, 40, offered their gratitude to Highlanders who had been “fantastic” with their responses on social network appeals for help.
“He’s somewhere up there. The hotel said they hadn’t seen him since Saturday. I don’t think he’s been back there,” Mr Gates said.
“They say they’d found his paperwork and laptop in the room at the Hilton in Aviemore where he was staying. He would not leave that behind. He’s also just got his car, which he loves driving.”
Mr Gates said his son had become rather nocturnal in recent weeks, remaining focussed on the business but working at night which had affected his sleep pattern.
Jason’s sister Alison said: “I’m very worried about him. It’s not like him to leave his dog. He’s had it for five years, since he was a puppy. Please, please just let us know you’re OK.”
Mr Gates’s luxury, mud-splattered Audi Quattro estate car – registration number OV15 OEF – was found parked by the tourist information office in the centre of Drumnadrochit on Thursday.
The keen walker, who is single, was believed to have been spotted a few miles from Drumnadrochit that day.
A member of the RNLI lifeboat crew subsequently called in to search for him recognised his face when police yesterday issued his photograph as part of their appeal for help.
Mr Gates is part of his family’s recruitment agency. He had been in the Highlands for a mini-break.
He described as being about 6ft 3in tall, of slim build, with short, cropped greying hair. He often wears black jeans and a tweed jacket.
He may be wearing walking boots. Trainers were found in his car when police gained access to the vehicle with the help of a Fort William locksmith yesterday afternoon.
The search covered a wide area – from Loch Ness, north of Drumnadrochit, to Urquhart Castle and several miles south and included the Enrick and Coiltie rivers.
It also stretched five miles westwards, inland, to woodland beside Loch Meiklie where another dog walker reported to police that they had seen a man on his own who may have matched his description.
Police were assisted by the RNLI’s Loch Ness lifeboat team, Inverness Coastguard and a police dog team and volunteers from the Search and Rescue Dog Association.
Coordinating the operation, Sergeant Shahid Maqsood said: “Any assistance would be appreciated. Please call us on 101.”
