Mum wades 60 miles through river after tracking 'stolen' sausage dog with AirTag

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Mum wades 60 miles through river after tracking
Mum wades 60 miles through river after tracking 'stolen' sausage dog with AirTag

This is the emotional moment a sobbing mum was reunited with her missing sausage dog - after desperately trekking 'more than 60 miles' in four days to find her.

Alifiya Mohamedbhai feared dachshund Violet had been stolen after she disappeared in Reddish Vale Country Park, Greater Manchester, while on a walk with her pal on Friday.

The 33-year-old and friend Madeleine Fitzgerald, 28, followed the pooch's collar tracking device but when it lost connection they exhausted themselves frantically searching for four days.

The Apple AirTag reconnected yesterday afternoon and directed the 'aching' pair to an embankment where the friends found the three-year-old sat calmly.

Emotional footage shows Alifiya wading through knee-deep water towards the tiny pooch as she and Madeleine cry with relief.

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Mum wades 60 miles through river after tracking 'stolen' sausage dog with AirTagAlifiya Mohamedbhai feared dachshund Violet had been stolen (Kennedy News and Media)
Mum wades 60 miles through river after tracking 'stolen' sausage dog with AirTagAlifiya frantically searched for four days after her pet's tracking device cut out (Kennedy News and Media)

The GP surgery care co-ordinator hugs Violet tightly and tells her 'my baby, I know', 'I've got you' as she carries her back across the river while the pooch 'pees with excitement'.

Alifiya shared the emotional clip on Facebook where it's been seen more than 150,000 times with users admitting it 'gave them goosebumps' and even made some cry.

The relieved mum-of-one says she's been left with blisters after clocking up around 100km (62 miles) in four days.

Alifiya, from Burnage, Greater Manchester, said: "I just couldn't stop crying. It was insane. I'd completely lost faith in finding her. I thought someone had stolen her.

Mum wades 60 miles through river after tracking 'stolen' sausage dog with AirTagShe trekked 60 miles in four days to find the little dog (Kennedy News and Media)

"We sound like we're dying on the video but I put my jumper on her and she was absolutely fine. She was just crying with excitement.

"The house has been empty and quiet and we've missed her annoying bark. She's not even an exploring dog and she hates going on walks.

"On Friday the tag said she'd wandered to a dual carriageway but after that there were no sightings of her.

"We were out for about nine hours on Friday. It was horrendous. I then covered 100km in four days.

Mum wades 60 miles through river after tracking 'stolen' sausage dog with AirTagAlifiya was in tears as she reunited with her dog (Kennedy News and Media)
Mum wades 60 miles through river after tracking 'stolen' sausage dog with AirTagAlifiya was left aching all over from the relentless search (Kennedy News and Media)

"I lost hope yesterday because my body was so sore and I'd hardly slept. I'm exhausted. Every single bone in my body is aching. I've got blisters on my feet.

"Yesterday I tried the app again and for the first time we got a location. We took some paracetamol and went there.

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"When we got there the AirTag kept pinging and pointing towards the water. I thought her collar might have been thrown in there.

"Madeleine saw her and she was just wagging her tail like nothing had happened. I didn't even think of the rocks or how deep the river was. I just jumped in.

"She jumped on me, weed and cried but I didn't even care at this point. We just couldn't believe she was there and not harmed."

Alifiya explained Violet goes on walks in Reddish Vale Country Park every day and knows it well so perhaps the pooch knew how to make her way back there after her adventures.

She desperately contacted Greater Manchester Police and independent dog finders to help find her, however by yesterday morning she had given up looking in the park.

Devastated Alifiya and Madeleine began handing out posters but then in the afternoon she was urged to check the Apple AirTag's app a final time by her sister and it reconnected to Violet.

Now Violet's safely at home, Alifiya says she'd love to know what the pooch got up to while she was missing and where she went because she was checking the park constantly.

She says vets have called it a 'miracle' that she wasn't harmed and they've confirmed she still has a clean bill of health.

Her Facebook post reads: "We found her. I can't believe it but my baby is home. What a crazy few days it has been. I cannot thank everyone enough.

"There are some absolutely lovely people out there. A huge thank you to my family and friends. I love you guys loads. My baby is home."

Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for comment.

Adam Wareing

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