Jersey runaway dog caught by using chicken as bait

A woman has described the "wonderful" moment she finally captured a dog by using roast chicken as bait after it had been missing in Jersey for nearly three weeks.

Seth, a small white rescue dog from Bulgaria, disappeared after spending only one night at his new home in St Ouen.

After sightings of the dog wandering towards St Mary surfaced on social media, the team at the Lost Dogs in Jersey Facebook group got involved.

Gail Bennie, from the group, confirmed that, after 20 days - and lots of treats - Seth was back home safe and sound, and had even decided to "hop up on the sofa" beside his new owners.

"There's a huge mixture of emotions," Bennie told BBC Radio Jersey.

"It's mainly relief that we know he's safe back with his owners and can take the medication he needs, and that is wonderful."

Bennie added: "But I did feel sad at how frightened he was when he saw me because you can't avoid the feeling of sadness when you see a terrified little dog."

As part of the rescue mission, Bennie recruited the help of vets, the government, police, local press outlets, as well as receiving equipment such as cameras, cages and treats from local businesses.

"I ended up roasting Seth a free-range organic chicken because I knew it had to be the best, and it needed to have that smell," she said.

"I took it wrapped up warm in tinfoil and then poured the juices into a flask which I'd preheated with boiling water, just to keep it really succulent and juicy.

"That way the smell wafted everywhere and, even though he had all manner of high value treats and delicious foods laid out for him, this worked."

Bennie said she believed Seth's owners were "fully committed" to his welfare.

She said: "I think the owners are prepared for everything they're going to need to do, even though they weren't expecting a dog with such tiny short legs to scramble over a 4ft wall.

"They know they're going to need to adapt, and I think they'll do it because they are fully committed to Seth's welfare and happiness.

"I was really pleased to get a message three hours after Seth was taken into the house that he had chosen to hop up onto the sofa next to his owner."

The story has attracted the attention of thousands of people on social media, with hundreds leaving comments on every update posted.

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