Missing Irish Wolfhound is reunited with his owner

Biggy the Irish Wolfhound has been reunited with his owner after he was spotted running along the motorway near Athenry, 11 days after he went missing from Salthill.

 A nursing home care assistant from Kiltullagh was driving home a week ago when she spotted the huge dog at the Athenry exit in a terrible state.

“I thought he must have been dumped by somebody because he looked so thin and bedraggled. I was afraid he was going to be knocked down because he looked really tired and didn’t seem to know where he was going,” explained Susan McNamara.

She pulled into the hard shoulder and the minute she opened the door the bandana-clad pooch jumped in.

An animal lover who has bred dogs in the past, Susan was happy to bring Biggy home.

She knows all about the heartache of losing a pet. She had six Jack Russells stolen from her home a few years back. She asked a nursing colleague to find out if anyone was missing a wolfhound as she had no internet coverage at home.

It was several days before she heard back that Biggy was the subject of an SOS at the behest of his owner, James Leopold Mechels. He had combed every inch of the city and its suburbs in search of his beloved hound. On one particular vigil after a reported sighting, James spent 11 hours in the rain at Millars Lane pitch hoping for a breakthrough.

Biggy took off from their Rockbarton home after a housemate forgot to lock the door. A Facebook plea went viral, with calls of support from as far away as Boston.

The pair are so close they even sleep together. James is a familiar sight along Shop Street and the Prom where he is often seen cycling along with three dogs in tow – Biggy, a Jack Russell called ‘Hamster’ and a Collie with the nickname ‘Poopie’. The dogs are also known as the Three Rovers.

“I could see straight was he was mine. I recognised his nose. I’m absolutely delighted. He smells pretty bad though. I have to give him a really good wash.” 

Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel