Whaley Bridge latest: Hundreds of missing pets reunited with owners after emergency evacuation

Hundreds of pets have been reunited with their owners after Whaley Bridge residents were urgently evacuated from their homes due to flooding.

Missing pets organisation Animal Search UK found and took care of the animals who had been left behind as people were urged to immediately leave the Derbyshire town.

Locals are now entering the sixth day of evacuations after heavy rain and flooding caused parts of the 180-year-old Toddbrook Reservoir dam to crumble last week.

On Saturday and Sunday, Animal Search UK workers travelled to the town to help with the rescue efforts.

A spokesperson for the organisation said: "During this weekend there was a serious risk to life for residents in the Whaley Bridge area, but their pets had been left behind in the rush to evacuate.

"One of our specialist teams arrived, and on Saturday morning they began numerous trips into the 'danger zone' behind police cordons to capture, feed and rescue abandoned pets."

The spokesperson said Animal Search UK had received close to a thousand calls from Whaley Bridge residents asking for – or offering – help.

Animal Search UK staff stock their rescue vehicle with the help of Pets at Home
PA

They said anyone looking to help residents of Whaley Bridge could temporarily house pets until their owners had been found.

One pet rescued and reunited with his owners was Joey the cockatiel, who had escaped from his cage as his owners rushed from their home.

The spokesman said: "Our highly trained call handlers in the office received a call on Friday afternoon from a very upset owner, who had been evacuated whilst they were at work.

“This meant that their hamster and cockatiel were left alone in the house without much food or fresh water.

“The owners were given their 15-minute access time, to go and retrieve their pets but sadly Joey, their cockatiel, had escaped from his cage and was flying around frantically.

“Thankfully Joey was safely captured and could be taken home with his loving owners.”

Whaley Bridge dam - In pictures

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The organisation has tweeted its praise for the teamwork between Glossop Police, Pets at Home, the RSPCA and residents in looking after the animals and reuniting them with their owners.

"We encourage all pets still missing to be reported for free on our website," it added.

More than 1,500 people have been evacuated from the town since Thursday following heavy rain, although a small number refused to leave their homes despite fears of the damaged dam at Toddbrook Reservoir bursting.

Twenty residents, including a "small number" who were initially evacuated but have since returned to their homes, remain in 16 properties in the evacuation zone.

Residents who were evacuated are today hoping to learn when they may be able to return to their homes.

The authorities are hopeful inspections can take place at Toddbrook Reservoir on Tuesday, with a public meeting called at 5pm.

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