Elderly Coppull couple are desperately hoping for Rocky's return

An elderly couple have been left heartbroken by the disappearance of their beloved pet dog.
RockyRocky
Rocky

Lancashire heeler Rocky, who is 11 years old, went missing at about 11am on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31.

Since then a search operation involving volunteers has continued in an effort to reunite him with his owners Jim and Audrey Taylor.

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The couple, who live on Claytongate, off Spendmore Lane, Coppull. are both aged 89.

Jim with RockyJim with Rocky
Jim with Rocky

Audrey was diagnosed with dementia several years ago.

They have had Rocky since he was a puppy - they got him from a breeder in Walton-le-Dale - and are desperate to get him back.

Their daughter Sara Hill, 46, who lives in Chorley, said her mum and dad were distraught over their pet's disappearance.

She said it was "a bit of a mystery" as to how Rocky went missing, but it may be that he followed her brother through the gate at their parents' home without him realising it.

Rocky's missing posterRocky's missing poster
Rocky's missing poster
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Sara said volunteers had searched for Rocky, put up posters and posted leaflets through letterboxes throughout Coppull.

Their hopes were raised when they received a call from a woman regarding a possible sighting, but nothing came from it.

"She was saying she'd possibly seen him running through bushes down at Duxbury," said Sara.

"I went down and spent one and a half hours there and couldn't see him anywhere.

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"Knowing the type of dog Rocky is, I think he's been picked up."

She said her parents were very upset.

"Mum is when she remembers, dad seems to be very depressed about it," said Sara.

Jim is a former miner who worked down the pit at the former Parkside Colliery, Newton-le-Willows..

Audrey was a weaver at the former Royal Ordnance factory and later worked for Morris's bakery.

They used to take Rocky for walks together at Birkacre.

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"Mum can't go out at all now and dad can't walk very well and would just drive to Birkacre in the last four or five years," said Sara.

Jim said he and Audrey were missing Rocky.

"Yes, terrible," he said. "We've had him eleven years and all of a sudden. It's hard to cope with, especially the wife. Terrible.

"I think someone's got him personally.

"If he is with someone and he treats them like he treated us, they might not want to part with him."

Jim urged anyone who might be keeping Rocky to give him up.

He has put up a "substantial" reward for the return of Rocky

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Meanwhile, Harveys Army North Facebook group, a charity which helps folk find their lost pets, has posted information about Rocky's disappearance.

.He is black and tan coloured and was wearing a collar and tag.

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