Relief as dog that went missing overnight on Arthur's Seat found after owner's scent laid down

Search for Ziggy after he went missing near Arthur’s Seat

A missing dog was found on Arthur’s Seat after the owner’s scent was laid down during a long overnight search.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were called after the alarm was raised that a dog, called Ziggy, was “stuck in the bushes” near Salisbury Crags in a local Facebook group.

In a video shared in the Edinburgh and Lothian Lost Dog Facebook group just before 9pm on yesterday (Tuesday) a dog can be heard barking in the distance.

Relief as dog that went missing overnight found on Arthur's Seat after owner's scent laid down

The post alongside the video said: “I’m at Arthur Seat with one of my own dogs and there is a dog stuck in the bushes over at the steps that can head up to the top over from the crag entrance from commi pool radical road path part! I’ve bumped into another gentleman who he also been trying to keep up with the barks and find an owner but no one around.

“Not sure if dog maybe stuck on a long line or flexi and caught but can move around in the area in the bushes!

“Is anyone aware of a dog missing?”

Updates throughout the night highlighted the search effort, including using the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s thermal imaging equipment.

An update in the group just after midnight read: “Unfortunately fire service have had to leave as the wee one has been moving around and they just couldn’t get him! Owner is here and we have laid down the owners scent and going to sit with the owner now that everything is calm again.”

After the owner was traced and informed, their scent was laid down in a bid to lure the dog out from its hiding place.

He then made his own way out of Arthur’s Seat before being caught by his owner near Cowgate.

On Wednesday morning the group informed members who had been following the rescue mission that Ziggy was now reunited with the owner and had enjoyed a “good breakfast.”

An update, along with a picture of Ziggy, read: “Safely back at home. Very tired but has eaten a good breakfast. No sign of any injury owner is glad to say but still picking thorns out his head.

“Ziggy wants to pass on his thanks for everyone’s help.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were alerted at 9.49pm on Tuesday, March 10 to reports of a dog trapped on a hillside at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.

“Operations Control mobilised a number of resources and crews assisted partners in searching for the dog, which could not be located at that time.

“The search was handed over to the animal’s owner and our partners.”