A family are desperately searching for their pet Labrador who ran off after being spooked by cannons firing during a town’s pirate festival.
Much-loved Scoobie belongs to Lyn and Ron Bicker but escaped from their Upper Brents home in Faversham on Sunday and is feared to have been hit by a car.
The family are especially anxious because retired coach driver Ron, 76, is gravely ill in hospital and the dog going missing has added to Lyn’s distress.
Family and friends have now been hunting high and low for four-year-old Scoobie – owned by the couple since he was a pup.
Their daughter, Bev Bicker, has also been handing out flyers around the town and has posted an appeal on social media, as well as alerting lost dog groups.
“We are desperate to find him, which obviously gets worse as the days go by,” she said.
“He got out of the garden after we think he was spooked by cannons firing during the Pirates Festival.”
There were a few suspected sightings of Scoobie around the Front Brents area and the Faversham Creek bridge the day he got out.
“That’s where several people say they saw a black dog hit by a car and then run off,” Bev said.
“He’s a big, friendly chap, but if he’s injured, he may have gone to ground somewhere as a wounded animal can do.
“So we are searching everywhere in the area because we don’t think he would have gone too far, especially if he’s hurt.
“Mum even thinks she’s heard him barking in the distance at night.”
Bev, who works at Howletts Wild Animal Park, near Canterbury, says the severity of her father’s illness means he is unaware Scoobie is missing.
But she is very worried for her mum, who used to be a taxi operator before becoming the cleaner for the main public toilets in the town.
“He is a great companion to her, and she is missing him terribly on top of Dad’s situation,” she said.
“I worry that with Dad so poorly, she won’t have that company when she needs it most.”
Anyone who sees Scoobie should call the family immediately on 07462 69708 or 07725 310771.
