Ripon search is stepped up for missing Cocker Spaniel Ella

The search for Cocker Spaniel Ella is being stepped up across Ripon and the surrounding area, a month after she went missing in woodland off Clotherholme Road.

For her distraught owners Andy and Jo Coombs, the round-the-clock search, which began on Friday October 13, has been extensive, with hundreds of people lending a hand.

Banners featuring Ella have been put in place at a number of key locations. Picture: Jo Coombs

Now, with thousands of leaflets printed for delivery by friends and volunteers to homes in Ripon and remote farms in outlying rural areas, the couple are hopeful that someone will come forward with a confirmed sighting that can be followed up.

Mr Coombs, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are not giving up hope, because there have been instances of dogs being found weeks, sometimes months, after they went missing.”

He added:

“Ella, received gun dog training when she was younger and is fully used to the countryside and capable of surviving on her own instincts.”

Still searching – Andy Coombs with Ella’s three-year-old sister Holly

The search,  which is being Co-ordinated by Mandy Butler of the Lost Dog Trapping Team Search & Rescue Network, has involved the use of tracker dogs, drones with thermal imaging equipment, monitoring of live cameras, checking cctv footage, the production and installation of hundreds of ‘missing’ posters and an appeal for assistance on social media

Anybody with information that may help in the search is asked to contact Ms Butler on 07947 866 582 or via Ella’s Facebook page that can be accessed by clicking here.

Eight-year-old Ella has been missing since October 13. Picture: Andy Coombs

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Hundreds join Ripon search for missing Cocker Spaniel Ella

A huge search operation involving hundreds of people is continuing in Ripon  to find a missing eight-year-old Cocker Spaniel.

Ella went missing at about 11.30am with her younger sister Holly on Friday, October 13.

They were in a group of dogs being exercised by a professional dog walker in the Clotherholme Road wooded area on the Royal Engineers’ barracks site,

But while three-year-old Holly was found safe 35 minutes later, the search for Ella, launched by her distraught owners Andy and Jo Coombs, who live in the Ripon area, has been ongoing day and night since.

Holly, pictured with Andy Coombs, was found but the search goes on for Ella.

Co-ordinated by Mandy Butler of the Lost Dog Trapping Team Search & Rescue Network, the operation has involved the use of tracker dogs, drones with thermal imaging equipment, monitoring of live cameras, checking cctv footage, the production and installation of hundreds of ‘missing’ posters and an appeal for assistance on social media.

One of the posters.

On Sunday, 60 members of the community, including a large contingent of dog owners, carried out a detailed search of the route where Ella had been walking on October 13.

Mr Coombs told the Stray Ferret:

“My wife and I are trying to remain hopeful and putting our full energies into finding her.

“Since she went missing there has been a massive gap in our lives, that will only be filled when she returns to us. “

He added:

“The response of the local community has been incredible, with hundreds of people stepping in to help us in whatever ways that they can, from putting up posters, to reporting potential sightings that we have been following up.”

Anybody with information that may help in the search is asked to contact Mandy Butler on 07947 866 582 or via Ella’s Facebook page that can be accessed by clicking here.

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