Digby’s owner thanks community as search continues for missing dog

A single mum from Banham has thanked supporters as she continues to search for her beloved family dog five weeks after he went missing – with a £1,000 reward now put up to find him.

Vicki Kerr’s 12-year-old black and white English Springer Spaniel, Digby, bolted from their Mill Road home on April 15 after being spooked by a loud noise whilst in the garden.

Since then the search has been on and Vicki started the Help find DIGBY Facebook page to find him – which now has 2,700 followers.

The 47-year-old said: “When Digby went, I didn’t know who to turn to help me find my dog, so I thought I would put a plea on Facebook and the response was incredible.”

Before the mother-of-two knew it, she had around 20 strangers and friends searching the village and the surrounding areas.

Those people have now become Vicki’s ‘Team Digby’ and the search and sightings then moved to East Harling and its woods.

Vicki said: “The team, people online and those in East Harling and around there have been such an emotional and practical support to me in so many ways.

“People I have never met have been out searching, donating hotdogs for the food stations we have been putting out, offered me coffee while I have been in Harling –the list of help just goes on and on.

“Wherever I go, strangers come up to me, recognise me and offer their support – the help to find Digby has been unbelievably crazy and my heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone.”

The last possible sighting of Digby was at Gallant’s Lane in the village but now Vicki thinks he may not be there.

She said: “We thought we had him close in Harling last week and thought he might have been feeding in the village but now we think he has moved on again.

Harling has been the many focus but now we have widened the search to see if he is trying to make his way home, by going Kenninghall and Quidenham way.

Asked what the last five weeks have been, Vicki said: “I have had good days and bad days.”

“But the community support has, without a doubt, lifted me from a dark place and I can not thank everyone enough.”

Vicki, who has had Digby since he was a puppy, called him her rock who has helped her through the hard times, her shadow and said she would not give up on him.

She said: “He is my world and now he is a very scared and timid dog, who has ran off and got himself miles away from home.

“If you spot him, take a picture and contact us so we can find out where he is and get him home.”

“Somebody has kindly offered a £1,000 reward for the safe return of him, no questions asked, so if you can help then please do so.

“Also if you can help Team Digby in any way you think will help in the search also get in contact.

“I am prepared we may not find him alive, but I just need closure and need to know where my boy is – surely someone, somewhere knows where Digby is.”

To find out more about the search for Digby, go to the ‘Help find DIGBY’ Facebook page.