PUPPY LOVE
After his beloved Buster went missing, Rob Smith was distraught. But searching for the pup took his life in an extraordinary direction…
Bringing home his Labrador puppy, Buster, was a special moment for Rob Smith, and the pooch quickly became his pride and joy. But Buster went missing just two months later, leaving Rob devastated.
It was only when a kind stranger named Samantha offered her support after seeing his Facebook post appealing for help to find his pup that Rob began to feel more positive. And in an incredible twist of fate, he and Samantha hit it off, and in time got engaged and became parents.
But nine years later and in an even more miraculous turn, Rob got the call he’d never dared hope for – Buster had been found and they were reunited. Rob says, “It was a real happy ending. Buster found my gorgeous family for me.
You can’t say that about many dogs, can you?”
MISSING
It was April 2010 when Rob had brought black Lab Buster home. He recalls, “He had such a lovely temperament and was a bundle of affection and energy.
“Two months later, when I was out with some friends, I received a phone call from my mum, Susan, telling me he’d gone missing. I dashed home to where we lived in Llanelli, Wales, but Buster was nowhere to be found.”
Buster had been playing in the front garden with Susan’s St Bernard, Alfie, when she went indoors to put some washing on. When she came back out, Buster was gone.
For the rest of the day, Rob and his family scoured the local area, but there were no sightings. Rob, now 43, called round local vets and the police, but no-one had seen the pup.
Rob says, “I was really distressed but my mum told me to keep positive, after all, Buster was microchipped, so if found, he’d find his way back to me.”
Rob put up flyers and even wrote in a local group on Facebook. Rob recalls, “Everyone was so supportive, and I felt better knowing that more eyes were on the lookout.
“After two weeks, I resigned myself to the fact he may have been stolen and that I might never see my beloved dog again. Then I received a Facebook message from a woman called Samantha Bowen. She’d seen my plea for help and wanted to know if there was anything she could do. I thanked her, but said I’d looked everywhere and there was no stone left unturned.”
Rob and Samantha, who now both work in a betting shop, began talking on Facebook about their mutual love of animals, particularly dogs, and Rob found himself opening up about the impact that Buster’s disappearance had had on him.
Samantha, whose mum had a golden retriever called Chance, was a great listener. Rob says, “Talking to Samantha really made me feel brighter and as our conversations continued,
