Lost dogs return home after owners cook sausages near where they went missing

The schnauzer pair scampered back when they smelled sizzling sausages. Photo / File/ 123RF

The family of a pair of handsome miniature schnauzers were distraught when they disappeared in thick fog while on a walk in the hills.

They thought they would never see Charlie and Theo again - until the pair scampered back when they smelled sizzling sausages.

Owners Liz and Graham Hampson launched a rescue campaign and contacted mountain rescue teams, friends and family.

More than 120 people and two drones answered the call to find the stranded pooches on the Red Pike fell near Buttermere, Cumbria.

After 96 hours of searching, as a last resort the family decided to cook sausages at the spot where the dogs were last seen.

The two had even camped out overnight, calling the names of the dogs.

Mr and Mrs Hampson were shocked and thrilled when moments later, their beloved pets appeared.

Mrs Hamson said: "When they first appeared it was like a mirage. I could not believe it was them.

"My husband ran up the hill to grab them as I was just shaking and crying. I could not function.

"The dogs are just gorgeous, and they are part of our family. It would be horrible not to have them around.

"They absolutely love sausages. They have them every Sunday for breakfast, so if there was one food they were going to come back for, it was sausages.

"One of our friends had the intuition to work out roughly where they would be and we started the barbecue there. It's like the ending of a film that it worked.

"My son is in the navy and we rang him first to tell him. A huge cheer went up on his ship.

"Charlie and Theo are actually dad and son so we're now joking they had a father's day weekend.

"And they've told us nothing about what happened. I guess what goes on tour, stays on tour."

Their son John was walking Charlie, seven, and Theo, 15 months, on top of Red Pike fell on June 16.

The weather turned at lunchtime and a thick mist rolled in, causing the 21-year-old to lose sight of the dogs,

He rang his mother straight away to let her know what had happened, and they immediately started to form a rescue party.

Liz said: "I was beside myself when John called. The dogs walk off lead when there is no livestock around and are used to being on the fells.

"It was a horrible phone call. We called our family and messaged friends and put out an appeal for people to look out for them on Facebook and Twitter.

"I also have a few friends who are part of mountain rescue groups so I asked if they could keep their eyes peeled if they were called out to a rescue.

"An awful lot of people responded. Groups of extended family and friends went out, and people from the local community who know the dogs.

"It was really nice, and Charlie and Theo are almost little celebrities now."