Meath girl (6) gets Christmas wish with return of dogs

Louise Walsh

A six-year-old girl who was asking Santa to bring her missing dogs home burst into tears when her parents found the cherished pets in a field on Monday night.

The one-year-old Bulldog, Lady, and the eight month old Pug 'disappeared' after they escaped through a hole in the fencing of the back garden of the Mackey's home in Robinstown, Co Meath, on Sunday afternoon, November 30th.

Little Rylee was so upset that she was asking Santa not to bring any presents this year - only the two beloved pets back to them.

Thankfully, after extensive searches the Mackeys found the pets in a field only 2km away from their home after a call from a lady who heard dogs barking on Monday night.

"I think it was pure chance that we got a call from a lady who heard dogs barking in a field near her home," said Rylee's mum Falynn.

"We couldn't get to them because of a river so we had to drive over four fields to where they were. My husband Steve stayed close to the river to keep talking to them, so they heard his voice and didn't run away.

"They were absolutely terrified when we got them."

The Mackeys brought the dogs to the vet who gave them the all clear, although they had lost 3kgs each in weight.

However Falynn believes the dogs may have been dumped in the field after the extensive media and social media coverage.

Falynn believes the dogs may have been dumped in the field after the extensive media and social media coverage.

"I have no idea if they were roaming through the countryside all this time, but if they were, they are the cleanest dogs to ever live in fields for eight days.

"We rubbed them down with a white towel when we got them - and that towel was still white afterwards.

"I just want to say a huge thank you to that lady and her family who rang me and to everyone who contacted me and shared our posts over the last few weeks."

The family were delighted to be reunited with their beloved dogs.

Falynn said both Rylee and her three-year old brother Luke 'burst into tears' when they saw the pets.

"They were just devastated for the last few weeks, we all were.

"Rylee turned to me and said, I'm glad we got them home, Mam and now I can ask Santa to bring me a Jasmine dress.

"The costume from Aladdin is all she wants from Santa so the dogs must mean the world to her for her to give it up for them for Christmas. She definitely got her Christmas wish early!"