Dog Missing for Over a Month Found Dead
A Suffolk family is in mourning after their beloved Springer Spaniel, Puffin who has been missing for over a month was found dead.
The four-year-old dog, a cherished member of the family and a valuable search and rescue asset, had been missing for a month after disappearing from her kennel in Uggeshall, Suffolk, on September 22nd.
Anne-Marie Millard, 57, who runs Uggeshall Spaniels, reported Puffin missing shortly after she was last seen in the house around 1:45 pm. Desperate for Puffin’s safe return, Ms. Millard took to social media, pleading with the community to share information and help locate the missing dog.
“My life just got worse…Puffin is missing, last time we saw her was 1.45 ish and in the house. Can absolutely everyone who lives near me post on Facebook for me? Black and white Springer spaniel,” she wrote on Facebook on September 22nd.
The search for Puffin intensified in the following days. Extensive searches of the surrounding area were conducted by staff and volunteers, extending well into the night. Drones were deployed to cover a wider search area, and a £3,200 reward was offered for any information leading to Puffin’s recovery.
A glimmer of hope emerged on September 26th when a possible sighting of Puffin was reported in Happisburgh, over 45 miles away. However, this lead proved fruitless.
Adding another layer of mystery to Puffin’s disappearance was the arrival of an Amazon parcel on the day she went missing. The delivery driver, who had to enter the secured kennel site due to the size of the parcel, left the package unattended.
Ms. Millard expressed frustration at the lack of cooperation from Amazon, the courier company, and the driver, believing they might hold crucial information about Puffin’s last moments at the kennel.
“The driver entered and left the site unannounced, he had to enter the site due to the size of the parcel delivered and where he left the parcel unattended,” Ms. Millard shared on September 27.
“As of Friday 14:00, after multiple requests neither Amazon, the Courier Company or the driver have supplied any details or come forth. When clearly the Amazon delivery driver could hold key information related to Puffin’s disappearance whether they are aware of it or not?”
Further complicating the situation was a break-in at Uggeshall Spaniels on September 24th, just two days after Puffin disappeared. While the intruder was chased off by staff alerted by the security system, the motive behind the break-in remained unclear, raising questions about a potential connection to Puffin’s disappearance.
“The police response was rapid and where on the scene within 10 minutes but unfortunately were not able to apprehend the intruder following an extensive search. It is unknow if this was related to Puffin’s disappearance 3 days earlier or even what the intruder’s intension was?” the update reads.
Despite weeks of tireless efforts, the search for Puffin took a heartbreaking turn on October 28th when Ms. Millard announced on social media that the police had closed the case due to insufficient evidence.
However, a glimmer of hope rekindled on October 31 with a reported sighting of Puffin in the Swefling/Rendham/Bruisyard area. This sighting offered a renewed sense of optimism, with Ms. Millard urging anyone who saw Puffin to avoid contact and instead, immediately report the location.
However, Ms. Millard revealed on Tuesday that dog they had been tracking was not Puffin but another person’s missing dog.
“The only good thing about this announcement is that I have tracked down someone else’s missing dog,” she shared. “However the dog we have been tracking is not Puffin so we are back to square one with where she is.”
Tragically, the hope for a happy ending was shattered on Wednesday when Puffin was found dead. In a social media statement, the heartbroken Ms. Millard described the devastating news:
“Just when we thought we were getting somewhere, we have been hit with the cruelest blow. Puffin was found dead yesterday. I can’t find the words to describe how we as a family are feeling. This includes my wonderful staff especially Louise who took over yesterday in my place as I just couldn’t function.”
While details surrounding the location and circumstances of Puffin’s death haven’t been released, Ms. Millard confirmed that Puffin couldn’t have been at the location for more than 2-3 weeks. The family is now exploring legal options under the Pet Abduction Act 2024, considering a private prosecution.
Throughout the ordeal, Ms. Millard expressed her immense gratitude for the overwhelming support received from the community, both from the dog-loving world and the general public of Suffolk.
“The last weeks we have been overwhelmed by how wonderful the people of not just my Spaniel world but the general public of Suffolk. Their kindness and help have been immense and I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she wrote.
