Please return our Fibi

A FAMILY whose missing pet dog was rehomed before they could claim her back from a Northside pound are pleading with his new owners to return him.

Frances Scarborough from Meakstown, Finglas, and her family were heartbroken when their 11-year-old terrier, Fibi, went missing from her parents’ home on Donore Avenue, Dublin 8, last August.

And they were totally devastated when the learned the dog had been found but had been given to new owners and couldn’t be returned.

Fibi went missing when she went wandering around the area where she was a familiar sight to friends and neighbours. However, as the hours ticked by and there was no sign of the beloved pet, Frances’s parents began to worry.

Unfortunately, they failed to alert the authorities or Frances as they were convinced Fibi would be found or return home before they caused any alarm to the rest of the family.

“She usually just has a little ramble around the road and comes back,

? said Frances.

“She’s been doing the same thing for the past 12 years so my parents weren’t that worried at first.

“She’s a friendly dog so they thought maybe somebody had taken her in. My dad put up posters around the area hoping somebody would recognise her and bring her back.

?

However, as the hours turned to days, the rest of the family were told and Frances called the DSPCA who advised her to contact Ashtown Dog Pound in Dublin 15.

“I couldn’t get through to them so I had to leave a message on their answer machine saying I wanted to speak to somebody and I gave a description of the dog,

? she said.

“I never heard anything back and I was giving up hope because we thought she had gone forever.

?

However, the family’s hopes of a reunion with Fibi were raised when a woman who had seen a missing poster called to say she had found their pet and had brought her to Ashtown Dog Pound.

“We were so relieved but we were wondering why Ashtown hadn’t rang us to say a dog fitting the description was there,

? Frances said.

“That was at the weekend so we rang again on the Monday to find out what happened but we were told there was no dog there fitting the description.

“My dad went up to check but there was no sign of her there.

?

Devastated, the family checked Ashtown’s Facebook page and were shocked to see two photos of Fibi posted there, one when she was found and another saying she had been rehomed.

In correspondence with Ashtown Dog Pound seen by Northside People, France’s family were told

“staff acted correctly

? when dealing with the issue.

A letter to Frances states that the dog was

“impounded on the 6th August and spent its stray time in the pound, which expired at midnight on the 11th

?.

The letter acknowledges a message was left on the pound’s answering machine on August 12th reporting a missing Yorkie/Jack Russell as going missing on the 8th August.

“The owner of the dog did not call to the kennels until Monday 19th, some 13 days after the dog had entered the pound,

? the letter goes on to say.

“Had we received the correct information and the owner called to the pound prior to the dog being rehomed, we believe the matter would have been resolved satisfactorily.

?

The family learned that Fibi had been homed with new owners, but have been unable to make contact with them to plead for their dog’s return.

“I have a young nephew and my own son is two and they’re really upset and have been looking for Fibi,

? said Frances.

“We wanted to write a letter to the people who have her, pleading to let her come home, but we don’t know who they are.

“Surely there’s no way they’d keep her if they knew the story.

“The neighbours loved Fibi because she’s so friendly and they’ve suggested we get a petition together to try get her back so that’s what we’re doing.

?

The petition was started last week and after three days almost 200 signatures supporting the family had been collected.

Frances said Fibi wasn’t wearing a collar when she went missing because she always manages to tear it off, but she accepts they should have been more responsible.

“We should have been more responsible and had her chipped and collared but hindsight is a wonderful thing,

? she added.

“I just want families to be aware that this can happen and if your dog goes to the pound you might never see it again. We’ve been left totally broken-hearted. We just want Fibi back

?

Ashtown Dog Pound said it wasn’t in a position to comment.

?¢ Picture shows Frances Scarborough with her son Ryan and nephew Jack Walsh with a photo of Fibi. PHOTO BY DARREN KINSELLA.