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A Kent family have spoken of their astonishment after their pet Welsh terrier returned home six days after getting stuck in a badger sett.

Owner Simon Taylor, 45, said he had begun to give up hope that four-year-old Vinnie would be found when he turned up on the doorstep on Friday.

The animal became trapped when he bolted down a badger sett in woods at Southborough Common, Kent.

Firefighters had tried in vain to find him using specialist cameras.

The rescue effort was also delayed by two days because of laws protecting badger setts.

Following Kent Fire and Rescue Service's failed attempt to reach Vinnie, Mr Taylor's wife Diana, 45, was convinced the family pet was alive and asked a group of local workmen to contact them if they saw him.

On Friday the workers called to say a dog had been seen but had run away.

Mr Taylor said: "The next thing she knew, there he was clambering up the front steps closely followed by an out-of-breath workman.

"He looked like he'd been stuck down a hole for six days, he was absolutely filthy.

"My wife burst into tears and the children also broke down, we couldn't believe he had come back after all this time."

When he returned the Welsh terrier was covered in tics and badger bites and had lost more than 1.8kg (4lb) but Mr Taylor said he was checked over by a vet who gave him a clean bill of health.

Source : http://news.bbc.co.uk

Date : 24/02/2010

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