Relief as Bella the dog is found safe after being hit by a bus in Sheerness
10:27, 14 March 2013
A dog owner is “over the moon” at being reunited with his beloved pet, days after it was hit by a bus and ran off.
Stephen Hook’s Staffordshire bull terrier, Bella, was found safe on Sunday at Seabreeze Caravan Park, Marine Parade, at 11am.
The four-year-old dog had been missing since around 10am on Thursday after she ran out of her Marine Parade home and into the path of a bus.
Disorientated, she then headed off down Richmond Street.
Mr Hook, 26, who also goes by his middle name Tom, left posters around the Island and also launched an internet search.
A post on the Sheerness Times Guardian’s Facebook page about Bella was shared 851 times.
Co-owner of the park Tracy Jackson said her sister-in-law Joy Nudds was walking her own dog when it started growling at something under one of the caravans.
Mrs Nudds’ daughter mentioned seeing something online, so they contacted Mr Hook who ran to the park and was picked up by Mrs Jackson in her car.
She said: “As soon as he got out of the car the dog heard his voice. She came out from under the caravan and was jumping up him and licking his face.
“I’m just glad the dog is safe, because if she was out for any longer she would have probably perished in the cold.”
Bella was taken to the vets and apart from cuts to her leg she was unhurt.
Mr Hook said: “I’m over the moon. She is like a baby to me.
“Thank you to everyone for helping me find her and getting her home. I didn’t understand the phrase ‘the kindness of strangers’ until now.”
The 26-year-old offered the caravan park a £100 reward which they declined. Instead he plans to give them flowers as a thank you and to make a £50 donation to the animal charity PDSA.