A devoted son who promised his dying mother he would look after her dog kept his word – by hiring a plane to search for the pet when it disappeared.
Dana Neal, 55, had assured his mother Nina on her deathbed last November that he would take care of her beloved Topsy.
So when the terrier cross went missing on a walk earlier this month he searched high and low for her – literally.
Electricity company owner Mr Neal hired the plane, bought £70 binoculars and borrowed night vision goggles to search the Washlands area of the river in Burton-on-Trent, in Staffordshire, where Topsy went missing on an island.
He was overwhelmed by support from locals after putting up posters offering a £100 reward.
And the plane company, Tattenhill Aviation, charged only £35 for the air search.
But after four days he feared 13-year-old Topsy had either starved or drowned.
Mr Neal, who owns Albion Power, in Burton, said: “When Topsy went missing I was devastated and knew that I would do anything to make sure she was found.
“I had so many people offering me extra help.
“The people who let me hire the plane must have flown me around for more than an hour but only charged me for 30 minutes.”
Just as he was giving up hope, a team of Environment Agency workers found the little dog, wet and cold but unharmed, on the bottom of a bridge arch for the A511, about a third of a mile from Washlands. It is believed that Topsy fell into the Trent and had to swim to the bridge because of high river banks.
Mr Neal said: “It was only by chance they spotted her. They called to tell me where she was.
“I offered them the reward but they asked if I would donate it to charity.
“I am still getting calls from people asking if the dog is all right. It does restore your faith in humanity.”
Mr Neal donated £100 to the charity Water Aid.
Dave Lowe, area manager for the Environment Agency, said the workers did not want to be named but added: “This is typical of their caring attitude. We are delighted that owner and dog have been reunited.”
