Loyal pet Scamp found after 11 days on run

A LOST dog who wandered Greenfield for 11 days in search of his late owner has been found safe and well.

Faithful Scamp stayed with Kevin Gossan (56), from Dukinfield, after he suffered a heart attack while walking near Dovestone Reservoir on July 13.

The accountant was discovered by two mountain bikers but when an air ambulance was scrambled to the scene on the Chew track, the scared Langdale terrier ran off.

Paramedics were unable to revive Mr Gossan, and his family were left searching the area for the stricken pet for nearly two weeks. But after an appeal in the Evening Chronicle, they were contacted by a Greenfield resident who said a dog of Scamp’s description had been taking refuge in her garden at night. There had been several sightings of Scamp around Greenfield and it’s believed the poor pooch had been spending her days desperately searching for Mr Gossan while hiding in gardens at night.

On the first night that Mr Gossan’s sister, Jean Bowers, of Stockport Road, Mossley, went round Scamp failed to show.

But on Friday, after Mr Gossan’s funeral at St Mary’s, Dukinfield, she was reunited with Scamp. “At first she ran off scared but I shouted her and she turned around as if she recognised me and she legged it over and jumped into my arms and was licking my face,” she said.

Scamp was nervy and had a skin infection after suffering several scratches but was otherwise given the all-clear after check up by a vet. It has been reunited with Mr Gossan’s wife Michelle and 12-year-old daughter Elizabeth.

Mrs Bowers said: “It’s like getting a bit of Kevin back as we are so close. I’m really grateful and now we can help Elizabeth and Michelle get their lives started again.

“I can’t thank the Chronicle enough and I want to thank everyone that has bothered to ring up. The people of Greenfield and Oldham have been marvellous.”