A COUPLE whose dog was lost near Arrochar for more than two days have said heartfelt thanks to scores of people who turned out in bitter weather to search for her.

Sarah and Andrew Parker from North Berwick were distraught when their cherished pet, a Shar Pei called Silky, disappeared suddenly on a walk up the Cobbler early on Tuesday morning.

When news of the dog’s disappearance emerged on social media, there was a huge public response, with people travelling from as far as Glasgow, Ayr and East Kilbride to help search for her.

The hunt for Silky was given added impetus when it emerged that, far from just being an ordinary pet, Silky is a special companion to Sarah who is undergoing treatment for cancer and goes with her to hospital.

However, the search ended suddenly, and rather comically, at lunchtime on Thursday when Silky unexpectedly emerged onto the main road at Arrochar – causing a bit of traffic commotion.

Unaware of the consternation she had caused, the wayward pooch then ran over to Andrew for a happy reunion.

The drama began on Tuesday morning when keen walkers Andrew, 51, and Sarah, 40, who had been staying with Silky at Ardgartan forest lodges, set off up the Cobbler.

Said Sarah: “We had her off the lead as she is normally very obedient. Se has been up mountains before - including Ben Nevis and Snowdon.

“She sat on a rock and I thought ‘that would make a nice picture’. I turned round to get the camera but in the split second it took to fetch it from the rucksack, Silky had disappeared.

“There was no sign of her and we couldn’t believe that she could just disappear.”

Andrew left Sarah at the spot and ran down to the holiday lodges to get help and several staff members set out with him to return to the hillside to search for the dog.

The search escalated later in the day when Sarah, who had trudged back down to the car park, sought help from Garry Freeburn, a council amenities warden who had parked his van there.

Sarah said: “Garry must have thought ‘who is this crazy woman’ as I approach him. But he was fantastic.

“He gave me food, water and dry clothes. From my phone I was able to share with him pictures of Silky which could go on social media as I am not on Facebook.”

Others quickly rallied round, with various hillwalking groups and locals getting involved, many staying into the night on the hill.

Sarah and Andrew stayed on the Cobbler until 3am on Wednesday, came down for some food and rest, and returned three hours later.

However, some tantalising news started to emerge that the pesky pooch had been spotted - but would not come out of hiding.

Sarah said: “She must have followed Andrew off the hill when he went to the car park at lunch time on Thursday. He heard a commotion and turned round.

“There was Silky coming along the road as if nothing had happened. She ran over and made a big fuss of him!

“I was at the top of the hill at the time with no mobile reception so didn’t know she had returned.

“Eventually I did get a call that she was back and walked back down off the hill with others who were with me.”

“We are delighted that Silky was safe. I am undergoing chemotherapy for cancer and she is my loyal companion - my rock.

“She comes with me on hospital visits and it’s very comforting to have her there.”

Sarah said she and Andrew thanked everyone for the huge effort that had gone into the search.

She added: “She has been a naughty dog and we have forgiven her. It’s ironic that she is called Silky after the bad fairy in the Enid Blyton book The Faraway Tree.

“As for the Cobbler, we won’t be going back there for a long time!”

Garry told the Advertiser that Sarah had looked exhausted when she approached him in the car park on Tuesday and he was delighted the search had been successful.

He said the following people deserved a mention for their efforts during the search: Jason Ferguson, Barry McGovaney, Maggie and Phil Leuty, Aaron and Lyndsay Brown, William Cochrane and Andy McCallion.

He added: “These were only a few of the people who were up the mountain searching but it was a real team effort by various members of the Scottish Hill walking and wild camping Facebook group and other local Facebook group members.”