| Below is a summary of the events that led to his rescue.
Initial Sightings and Lack of Official Assistance (14–15 October):
A black German Shepherd Dog (initially believed to be female) was spotted running loose, scared, and exhausted around the Mill Hill and Seven Islands areas of Mitcham Common. Concerned dog walkers contacted the Mitcham Common Manager and Warden, the police, the local council, and dog wardens, but none felt able to intervene to catch the loose dog.
A member of the Friends of Mitcham Common contacted Wade, who reached out to member Christine Dore for advice.
Community Monitoring and Trapping Plans (19–22 October):
Sightings were reported across social media (Nextdoor and Facebook) and through local dog walkers, placing the dog near Mitcham Junction, opposite Miller & Carter, on the golf course, and near the bomb crater. Christine shared her contact details with local walkers, ordered a dog trap, and coordinated with a friend, Vanita, who set up a feeding spot with food and water under a hawthorn tree near the Ecology Centre car park. Rescuers were particularly anxious to secure the dog before the 5th November fireworks, which could terrify him further.
Movements Off the Common and Police Capture (Late October – Early November):
Sightings shifted towards Ravensbury Park and the Tooting & Mitcham Football Club. Late on Saturday night, Wimbledon Police successfully picked up the frightened dog at the Lombard Business Park.
Tracking through Council Contractors (Early November):
Because Merton Council did not have an in-house dog warden, the dog was collected by SDK contractors and placed in holding kennels in Slough, facing an 8th November deadline in the pound. Without microchip identification or formal reports, the dog was at serious risk of slipping through the net.
Christine tracked the dog down from Slough to further kennels upcountry. Upon closer examination, the dog was confirmed to be male and was named Charlie. A dangling choke chain indicated he had likely been tied up, and had chewed through a rope, then spent three weeks on the run. Garbo’s GSD
Rescue agreed to take Charlie into their care for rehabilitation. |
