Steak pasties for runaway dog after being guided to safety by steam train

A dog trainer was reunited with a runaway pet after it was guided to safety by a steam train. Mastiff cross Marley escaped the home of dog communication expert Dawn Allen in Herontye, East Grinstead, West Sussex, after the canine apparently managed to open the front door of the property. The rescue dog, who is being temporarily fostered by Dawn, went missing for four days before she was eventually caught by valiant volunteers on the Bluebell Railway. Passengers on board the steam train spotted the three-year-old on the track at East Grinstead station, so staff decided to slowly persuade her to move along the line to Horsted Keynes, where she was rescued.



On arrival, she was looked after by children’s entertainer Ray Sparks, who was putting on a Punch and Judy show at the station. She was given a bowl of water and two steak pasties, before Dawn came to collect her. Mr Sparks said: “She must have walked about five miles on that track and when she got to Horsted Keynes she was exhausted. She was so tired and hungry, and she wolfed down the two steak pies. One man used his belt to loop around her collar, but obviously he needed that back, so I used a stretch of rope to keep hold of her and I went and sat on the floor in a quiet area with her. She is a lovely dog.”

Dawn said she was “relieved” and “overjoyed” at being reunited with Marley after four days of searching for her. The 47-year-old, who owns three rescue dogs in addition to Marley, added: “It was overwhelming to walk into that waiting room to see Marley on the floor being made so much fuss of. She was so exhausted she was unable to stand unsupported, so with the help of the very kind man she was scooped up in his arms and carried back to the car where she was able to rest and take the weight of her paws. “Marley was simply exhausted and had run out of steam so the team and members of the public were able to catch her and pop her in the waiting room.”



Dawn, who is a member of the Pet Dog Trainers of Europe, said she has fostered many dogs from charity Rescue Remedies, but admitted it was the first time one had opened the front door themselves. And she was certain that, having never lost a dog before during 15 years’ experience, it will never happen again. “I am confident that my customers, who were all extremely supportive with the rescue of Marley, trust my skills, knowledge and experience to continue to have confidence in me and Four Positive Paws." A Sussex Police spokesman said a 50-year-old man reported being bitten on the forearm as he attempted to rescue the dog, but confirmed he was not seriously injured and did not seek to take action against the dog or the charity.