WHEN Allan Bunting was suffering with lung cancer, his only comfort was his four-year-old Italian greyhound named Blue who would sit on his bed all day long to keep him company.
But now, a year after Allan’s death, his family have been left devastated following Blue’s disappearance.
“Blue used to sit on my granddad’s hospital bed and guard over him while he was having treatment,” said Allan’s grandson, Steven Skelley, 38. “The whole family really associate the dog with him and Blue is like granddad’s legacy.”
Allan was a former miner and champion pigeon racer who lived with his wife, Ann at their home on Greenset View, Athersley North.
“My grandparents were quite known on the estate, and my granddad used to race pigeons which made him quite well known locally,” said Steven.
Allan died from cancer in May last year and Blue was a source of comfort for Ann in the months that followed. On Saturday, Ann was walking Blue in the fields behind her home when he ran ahead and went missing.
“He just ran a few metres ahead of my nan and then disappeared,” said Steven. “Further along the path a lot of bikes went past so we think someone has seen him on his own and picked him up because he is a cute dog.”
Blue is grey with a white patch on his stomach and has a limp on his front paw from an injury he sustained as a puppy.
“He is a really much loved family dog and my Nan really dotes on him. Blue going missing has hit her really hard and she just sits and looks out the window, waiting for him to come back. We are distraught as a family that we can’t get him back for her.”
Blue is micro chipped and Ann and Steven are desperate to find him. They have appealed online for any information or sightings of Blue and their appeal has even been seen by former poet laureate, Ian McMillan who retweeted the post on Twitter.
If you have any information contact Steven at stetwinkle@gmail.com, or phone 077030 735203.
