Dagny Hassall, 13, of Dysart Road, was distraught when five-month-old Pip went missing earlier this month.

She and her family made posters and put them up on nearby lampposts and in local shops, and knocked on neighbours' doors and asked them to check garages and sheds.

But it was an advert placed in the Journal that led to Pip being returned home safely the following Saturday evening.

Mum Louise said: "We got a phone call from a family in Sproxton who said they thought they had Pip.

"When we got there we couldn't believe it was her and she was sitting in the kitchen."

The family told Louise fly-tipping is common near their home, and they had rushed outside when they heard a car speed up, expecting to confront fly-tippers.

The car sped off and they spotted terrified Pip on the roadside.

Louise said: "I am left in disbelief that anyone would do such a callous act as this and cause so much heartache to our family.

"We're putting up 6ft fencing panels and putting chicken wire around the garden, because we can't risk letting her out again.

"I would like to thank every one who acted on our flyers and to the retailers who put posters up, and to the general public for their calls. It shows that there are good, kind people out there."


Dagny said: "I was really upset about what happened to her but I'm really happy she's back.


"She's happy to be back, but she's a bit upset that she's under house arrest for now."

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