Debbie Slade from Tonbridge is reunited with her pet dog, who strayed 15 miles

A collie called Holly has been reunited with her Tonbridge owner thanks to Sevenoaks District Council picking up the pet FIFTEEN miles away from where she went missing.

The 14-year-old Collie-cross was out on a ramble in Downe with her owner, Debbie Slade, on Sunday, 22 January, when Holly took off after being spooked by noise from an aircraft.

A distraught Debbie spent the next nine days searching for the dog, putting up posters and scouring the area.

Despite some local people reporting that they thought they had seen Holly, Debbie thought she'd lost her for good.

But when Sevenoaks District Council investigated reports of a loose dog in West Kingsdown and went to pick up the animal, it turned out to be Holly who had strayed 15 miles away from where she went missing.

Luckily, Holly was micro-chipped, which meant the Council were able to contact her owner within hours so she could be collected that day.

A relieved Debbie Slade was reunited with Holly on Tuesday 31 January at the Council's Sevenoaks offices.

Tonbridge resident Debbie said: "It's a great relief to have Holly back. I'd like to give my heartfelt thanks to the Council for reuniting us so quickly. Given that she was found many miles away from where I'd lost her, I doubt that I would have ever seen her again had she not been micro-chipped."

The Council's Animal Welfare Officer, Ann-Marie Milton, added: "Reuniting lost dogs with their owners is one of the most rewarding part of my job. Not only are the owners delighted but the dogs are as well.

"This shows the value of micro-chipping your dog. Had Debbie not done so, we may never have been able to reunite her with Holly who, like many other dogs we collect, would have been put in kennels and looking for a new home."

Sevenoaks District Council strongly recommends that all dogs are micro-chipped. The Council can microchip dogs at home for a subsidised fee of £18 per dog.

For details or to book an appointment call 01732 227000 or e-mail information@sevenoaks.gov.uk.