Nelly, an 11-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, has stunned her community by surviving for two weeks in freezing weather after going missing on the Cotswolds’ highest point, Cleeve Hill. On New Year’s Eve, Nelly disappeared during a walk with her owner, Matt Grimshaw, on the 330-meter hill near Cheltenham.
Despite harsh conditions, with temperatures dropping to -5°C and snowfall during her absence, Nelly was found alive on January 13. She was discovered tangled in brambles and barbed wire roughly half a mile from where she vanished. The lucky find was made by pheasant shoot beater Mike Lord and his dog.
Nelly’s disappearance sparked an extensive and heartfelt search involving hundreds of volunteers armed with drones and sniffer dogs, prompted by Matt’s appeals on social media. The community’s dedication was overwhelming and heartfelt.
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Matt, a 40-year-old carpenter from Winchcombe, expressed immense relief and happiness at Nelly’s safe return. “It’s incredible to have her back home with my wife Melody and our two teenage children,” he said. While they are still piecing together exactly where she was lost, Matt believes Nelly survived by drinking from puddles and eating whatever she could find, including grain, discarded food, and possibly even rabbit droppings.
Although Nelly lost about 20% of her body weight and has sore feet, a vet has provided pain relief and treated a small wound on her ear. Remarkably, she missed her regular heart murmur medication but appears to be recovering well.
Back home, Nelly reunited with her family and their other dog, Connie, a three-year-old Cavalier cross Cocker Spaniel. Matt praised the extraordinary support from the community. “On New Year’s Eve, hundreds of people were searching around that car park. Some didn’t even know me but still came to help. One woman drove from Devizes daily to assist. It was truly heartwarming.”
Ruth McDonagh, a local canine massage therapist and dog lover, was among the searchers. She said, “I didn’t think she had much chance surviving in such a rural, rugged area with countless places a frightened dog could hide. Hearing she was found alive brought sheer joy to all of us.”
Nelly’s survival is a testament to resilience and the power of community spirit in times of crisis.