Salford family's pet poodle unrecognisable after vanishing for four months

A family's treasured poodle has made an extraordinary return home after being lost in the wilderness for a harrowing four months. Christine Lee and her father Rocky were left devastated when the three-year-old pet bolted from their Salford garden on August 15, disappearing without a trace.

Despite their worst fears of never seeing him again, Blue was found last Friday (December 6) in nearby woods, having managed to survive on scraps through tough winter temperatures and even enduring the noisy Bonfire Night fireworks. However, his once immaculate white coat had become a matted brown mess, and he was so emaciated that 'bones were sticking out'.

"We honestly didn’t think we would see him again," Christine, 29, from Greater Manchester, said. "He’d been gone for so long and it’s been so cold with fireworks going off. He must have been terrified."

Upon discovering Blue, Christine revealed that he 'hardly responded' at first, but then he suddenly perked up and licked her hand when he heard his name. "His coat was badly matted and his skin red where it had got infected," she continued, according to the Mirror.

"He’s had a bath now and is back to normal, but he was very lucky." The Greater Manchester Lost Dog Search and Rescue Capture Team were instrumental in Blue's safe return, setting up a camera and food trap after a sighting was reported on Wednesday, December 4.

Michelle Newns-Peers, who is at the helm of a group dedicated to tracking down missing dogs, detailed the meticulous approach that led to a lost dog's return: "We placed a feed station and live camera near to where he had been seen and a scent trail mix leading to the food.

"Approximately an hour later he turned up and fed. The following day, Friday December 6, we