Runaway ferret reunited with owner thanks to Elton John tribute act

A one-year-old ferret that escaped from her home in Clitheroe, Lancashire, was reunited with her owner thanks to a man who performs as an Elton John tribute act who found the runaway animal while out running. To the delight of her owner Cassie Owen (32), Gypsy was returned home, after she posted messages about her missing ferret on Facebook.



Cassie said she was devastated when Gypsy absconded from her cage. Cassie had been playing with her and had put Gypsy and her other ferret, Fig, back into their cage. “I think my dogs must have helped them escape,” explained a bemused Cassie. “We later found out she had gone over the wooden bridge on the back road to Waddington and jumped out on a runner. She’s so friendly and loves people, I’ve hand reared her since birth, so she must have jumped out on this runner to play.”

The runner, Dean Torkington (52), who has a caravan at Edisford Bridge, realised Gypsy must be a pet and flagged down a car to take him home before making inquiries at Ideal Pet Stores in Clitheroe, where he thought she may have been bought from. After leaving his details at the pet shop he subsequently gave Gypsy to a friend, a sound technician, who he knew kept chinchillas and would have a cage at his home in Wigan, 25 miles away. Cassie was devastated and posted messages on Facebook in the hope someone had found Gypsy.



And, in a stroke of luck, someone who had been in the pet shop when Dean spoke to owner Raymond Briggs on the phone got in touch. Cassie immediately contacted the pet shop where Raymond’s wife, Carol, was only too happy to give her Dean’s phone number. “I’m just so glad to have got her back, as is her little ferret friend Fig,” said Cassie. “I’m hoping this trip has satisfied Gypsy’s wanderlust and she never leaves home again.” Dean, who travels the country with his Elton John tribute act said he is glad there had been a happy ending to the tale.