A STRAY puppy has been safely rescued after more than a month roaming the Radnorshire wilderness.

It is believed the dog, thought to be a young yellow Labrador Retriever but for which there are no details as it was not microchipped, was sadly dumped in the Powys area and left to fend for itself.

She had been spotted on numerous occasions and in multiple areas around Crossgates, Penybont, Dolau, Llanddewi and Llanbister since mid-February, but rescuing her proved far more elusive.

One of the biggest concerns was the fear of her being shot, with Powys farmers currently in the grip of arguably their busiest time of year – lambing.

County Times: The numbers represent how many times she was sighted, which is over 40. The numbers represent how many times she was sighted, which is over 40. (Image: Missing Dog Support Team CIC)

The Missing Dog Support Team CIC, a non-profit organisation, was notified, and after an exhaustive few weeks, eventually rescued her sometime last week.

The dog, as detailed in the screenshot revealing how many sightings were reported to or by the Missing Dog Support Team, was spotted on more than 40 occasions in this little pocket of Powys after first being seen around mid-February.

“We believe that she was sadly dumped in the area she was straying,” said a spokesperson for the Missing Dog Support Team (MDST).

“There is heartbreakingly no family that we know of. The community and the team became her family and took great care of her.

“Sadly, being dumped or discarded is the fate of an all too high number of dogs at the moment; stray, not microchipped or unregistered dogs are forming the bulk of our work and many other trapping teams are reporting the same.

“It's a sad state of affairs across the board in animal welfare, with the cost of living being so high. Rescues are overwhelmed in every area.

“The lucky dogs are trapped and hope for a future, many discarded dogs are hit by cars, fall into canals or perish because they can't sustain themselves.

“We hope that the dog from Powys will eventually be adoptable but our part of her story was just a small one.”

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A poster was circulated on social media which brought in a lot of retrospective sightings showing the dog was travelling across a wide area.

A week later a live sighting resulted in the MDST eventually travelled to the area, which involved placing a number of cameras and feeding stations in various areas.

Although most farmers reported her as being no bother to livestock, the rescue team were aware that lambing season was in full swing, and they raised concerns that some farmers may not tolerate her straying on their land.

County Times: The female dog's behind can be spotted on a camera at a feeding station, but it was still more than a week before she was found. The female dog's behind can be spotted on a camera at a feeding station, but it was still more than a week before she was found. (Image: Missing Dog Support Team CIC)

Sightings continued to drip in with reports of her spotted on busy A roads, the railway line, jumping gates and even swimming to reach the other side of the river.

Early in March one of the cameras showed a little blonde bum at a feeding station – but it was still more than a week before she was tracked down to a farm owned by the Bowen family.

She eventually entered a specially-designed trap and, after at least a month of roaming, the dog was finally safe.

“We would really like to thank every single person who called in sightings, shared the poster on social media and helped spread the word,” added the MDST.

County Times: One of the biggest concerns was the fear of her being shot, as it is lambing season currently. One of the biggest concerns was the fear of her being shot, as it is lambing season currently. (Image: Missing Dog Support Team CIC)

“Thank you to everyone who was sympathetic to the dog's situation and allowed her to pass through their land.

“Thank you so much to all the landowners who allowed our cameras, the Watkins and the Davies' and the Bowen family for allowing the trap on their field where the dog was eventually secured.

“Lauren and Claire, the amount of effort and dedication you showed the dog was beyond incredible and the team could not have gotten the dog safe without your help.”

The rescue mission cost the Missing Dog Support Team £500 in fuel alone, and they are encouraging donations to the cause. You can find out more on their Facebook page or by emailing mdstcic@gmail.com.

Alternatively, they have an Amazon wish list for the equipment they use to aid us to help with rescues. You can view it at https://shorturl.at/pAC59.

Meanwhile, a fundraiser has been set up by the organisation, which you can contribute to at https://shorturl.at/ADEH5.