TANSIE the terrier from South Zeal has been found safe and well, 12 days after she went missing on Dartmoor, writes Alison Stephenson.

The 14-year-old pet turned up at the Gidleigh Park Hotel on Friday, around three miles from where she disappeared, much to the relief of her owners and many members of the community who had helped in the search.

Owner David Capon had been walking his usual route at Scorhill with his two terrier dogs when Tansie suddenly decided to go the other way and completely vanished.

'She is such a little dog and camouflaged in the grass — I looked everywhere for her but she had gone,' he said.

Fears for Tansie's safety increased as the days went by. With her age against her as well as failing sight and hearing, Mr Capon and his wife Carola became very concerned.

'We went up to the moor two or three times a day in the hope of finding Tansie and in the end we were pretty frantic,' added Mr Capon.

'We feared she had perished but not knowing what had happened to her was terrible.'

Then on Friday the couple received a call from Gidleigh Park Hotel saying they had found a dog on the premises meeting the description of Tansie. After a feast of chicken from the award-winning hotel, the little dog was back on form and just in need of a good wash.

'We could not believe after 12 days that she was OK, apart from losing a bit of weight which did her no harm at all,' said Mr Capon.

'She certainly showed she has a bit of style turning up at Gidleigh,' he said.

'We think she must have come off the moor and followed the river through the woods to the hotel — she's a tough little thing and terriers are natural scavengers .'

Mr Capon said Tansie seemed to have a new lease of life and there was great joy in the household to have her back: 'Our other dog Trooper was pining for Tansie so he is a happy fellow,' he said.

The owner added he was so grateful to Chagford postman Tony Mann who delivered posters to all the surrounding villages and all the residents who helped in the search.

'We hope that others who have lost their loyal pets will take some heart at this happy outcome and never lose hope,' he said.