A Burton woman has thanked the dozens of people who helped search for missing Maisie after the timid ex-puppy farm dog was found after two weeks.

Maisie's case was shared hundreds of times on Facebook, while others went out searching for her after hearing about her plight.

The tan-coloured bulldog and shar-pei crossbreed escaped from her home in Weir Bank, Stapenhill, on Friday, December 29. She was being looked after by Sarah Monk, who was fostering her for animal shelter Wonky Pets Rescue from Swadlincote.

Maisie is an ex-puppy farm dog

After Maisie went missing, Sarah, 48, put out many desperate pleas in the hope of finding the beloved pooch on social media and leaflets, which she handed out. Sarah had been looking after Maisie and was working on rebuilding her confidence so she could go on to be re-homed when she got out and went missing.

Ms Monk, 48, said: "We thought she would be nearby because she doesn't move far from anywhere and that she fled in pure panic, but we couldn't spot her anywhere at all.

"After a while I did think someone had taken her because we had no sightings whatsoever."

What happened to Maisie in the past is not totally clear but it is known she was used as a breeding bitch on a puppy farm and was abused.

Her extremely timid and anxious nature comes from being abused during her time on the farm, such as being strangled and living in very cramped conditions, said Sarah.

The location where Maisie was found

While Maisie was missing, Sarah had to to warn people not to approach, call or attempt to catch her as she felt the dog would run off again.

On Friday, January 12, Maisie was found wedged between a fence and a compost heap in the grounds at Stapenhill Football Club, just half a mile away, after being spotted by a woman who had been out looking for her after seeing one of the leaflets asking people to look out for her. It is believed Maisie was hiding because she is so timid.

Maisie, escaped and was missing for 14 days Pictured: The social media posting, when Maisie was found
The social media posting when Maisie was found

After word reached them that Maisie had been spotted, Sarah, along with her partner James and a member of staff from Wonky Pets Rescue, searched the area with the help of a infra red camera used to detect heat, which was provided by a wildlife group to help in the hunt.

The people who had been searching for the dog attempted to set a trap to catch her, but Maisie would not budge, so animal rescue group founder Lindsay Newell was called in to intervene and caught the pooch with an animal catch pole around her neck.

Ms Monk said: "Well I can only thank everyone who posted a leaflet.

"It was someone who saw that leaflet that posted a pic.

"It's just one leaflet that does it. I can't type as I keep going to look at her!"

Maisie, escaped and was missing for 14 days Pictured: picture showing how much weight that she had lost
Pictured is Maisie showing how much weight that she had lost

Maisie is this week recovering after not having much to eat while she was missing. Sarah said the dog is settling back down and is now being well and truly spoilt; eating chicken breasts and liver to get her weight back to normal.

Other pooches in need of a loving homes at Wonky Pets Rescue

If you have been moved by Maisie's plight, Wonky Pets has other dogs which are in need of new homes.

Spot

Spot the dog
Spot the dog

Spot is a two-year-old old chihuahua-jack russell cross breed.

He is neutered, microchipped, flea and worm treated and had a first vaccination so far. He will be re-homed with five weeks free pet insurance.

Staff say Spot is a happy, friendly and lively little lad. He is full of beans and energy and will need a home where the owners can provide him with nice long walks and plenty to keep him occupied.

He has been fine with the other little dogs and it would be nice to have another spayed female in his home to play with. Sadly, he would not be able to share his home with cats, said the group.

He is not suitable to live with children under 16 years old.

Spot is being fostered near Market Drayton, Shropshire, but can be re-homed further afield subject to a home check and donation.


Ewok

Ewok
Ewok

Ewok is an 11-year-old old bichon-chihuahua cross breed He is neutered, microchipped, flea and worm treated and had a first vaccination so far, he will be re-homed with five weeks free pet insurance.

Ewok was handed into the shelter when his owners no longer wanted him.

He likes people but also likes his "own time" and will take himself off somewhere quiet when he wants some "me" time.

Staff say his eyes light up when its time for a walk though, and he loves to go out for lovely long rural walks where he can have a good old sniff and run around.

Ewok has proved to be great around other dogs, totally ignores cats and can live with sensible quieter children aged six years and over. He would not enjoy being in a busy noisy household though.

He enjoys company but is fine to be left alone for a few hours each day and will need someone who can give him a couple of good length walks a day.

Munch

Munch the 14-month-old English bulldog
Munch the 14-month-old English bulldog

Munch is a 14-month-old British bulldog girl. She is spayed, fully vaccinated, microchipped and flea and worm treated. She will also be re-homed with five weeks free pet insurance.

Munch has a large scar on the back of her head where she needed ingrowing hair folicules removed when she was just seven months old as they were causing a lump to form but this causes no ongoing issues for her.

Munch is a big girl weighing in at nearly 30kg, she is not only big in stature but also in personality, say staff. She is "absolutely bonkers" but very loving too.

As Munch is a very playful dog, she would be ideally matched with very active larger dogs as she is too much for smaller dogs.

Staff don't feel that placing her with another female dog would be best for her long term and they are ideally looking for a home where the owner has experience of bulldogs.

She can be re-homed with children who are aged six years old and over and who are used to living with a large, boisterous dog.

Anyone interested in re-homing a dog should email Wonky Pets Rescue on wonkypetsrescue@gmail.com, attaching contact details and details on your home.