“This is the best Christmas present that we’ve ever had' - Kibworth couple recall the dramatic rescue of their stolen dog

An overjoyed Kibworth Harcourt couple have dramatically rescued their stolen pet dog who was found on the high-speed Leicester to London railway line.

Rachel Wade, 28, and her husband Kieran, 24, leapt into action yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) after their beloved dog Betsy was spotted wandering by the busy main line near their home by a sharp-eyed dog walker.

The amazed couple jumped into their car and hared to the scene before 6ft 8install Kieran scaled an 8ft security fence to rescue their two-and-a-half-year-old chow chow in the nick of time.

Thrilled Rachel told the Harborough Mail today: “We just can’t believe that we have got Betsy back safe and in one piece.

“This is the best Christmas present that we’ve ever had – and one of the best days of our lives.

“We both feared that we’d never see her again.

“And she could have so easily been killed on the tracks as trains speed up and down that line all the time.

“She wouldn’t have had a chance.

“It’s just incredible that Betsy is back with us – all our hopes and prayers have been answered.”

Rachel told how their rescue operation unfolded at about 2pm yesterday after Betsy was stolen from their back garden in Kibworth Harcourt just before 9pm on Saturday night (December 19).

“We suddenly got a Facebook message from a lady who lives here in the village.

“She said she had been out walking her dog with a friend and they’d spotted a dog looking like Betsy near the railway line,” said the Kibworth Primary School teacher.

“The woman, who was brilliant, sent us some pictures she’d taken and we knew straight away that it was our Betsy.

“We both jumped in the car and just then my mum Nicky pulled up in her car.

“We quickly filled her in and told her to follow us,” said Rachel.

“She was crying, I was crying!

“We parked up as close as we could, dashed up to the huge fence and we could see Betsy walking about just feet from the tracks.

“We heard a train flash past just as we drew up – it was so dangerous.

“Betsy would have been killed if she’d stepped on to the line.

“Kieran managed to climb over the fence, call her name and she ran straight to him – she was so happy to see us.

“He picked her up and handed her to us back over the fence.

“It’s funny because there were quite a few people stood on two nearby bridges looking on – we had a crowd watching us rescue Betsy!

“We were just so ecstatic to get Betsy back alive and well, it was very emotional.”

The couple had Betsy checked over by a vet and apart from a sore face where she had possibly had a muzzle put on her she’s fine.

“She’s been traumatised, as we have, by the whole experience.

“She won’t go anywhere near the back garden after she was stolen from there and we have to take her out to go for a wee,” said Rachel, who rescued Betsy as a pup over two years ago after she was illegally smuggled into the UK from Lithuania.

“I took her for a walk at the crack of dawn today and at least five people stopped me to congratulate us on getting Betsy back.

“They could hardly believe it either.

“We can only speculate on what happened to our poor dog.

“But we can only think that the evil people who took her just dumped her over the fence by the railway line.

“How callous and cruel is that knowing that she could have strolled on to the tracks at any time and been wiped out there and then?

“The people who stole Betsy cannot have a conscience or any feelings what so ever.”

Asked what she would say to the criminals who took her, Rachel replied: “I would tell them that dogs aren’t just possessions.

“Stealing a dog is not like stealing your car, money or telly.

“People who steal your dog rip the very heart out of your family.

“Betsy is our little baby.

“We love her all the world – and to have her stolen is heartbreaking, it’s devastating,” insisted Rachel.

“There should be tougher punishments and deterrents for people who steal dogs.

“We’ll be watching Betsy like a hawk from now on – we’ll never let her out of our sight ever again.

“And I would urge every pet owner throughout Harborough to be extra vigilant and to be on their guard because far too many dogs are being stolen.

“I’d also like to say a massive thank you to everybody who has helped us look for Betsy over the last few days and given us such incredible support.

“The community here in Kibworth has been brilliant and we are so grateful to everyone all over the area who has got behind us.

“We are now looking forward to spending our best Christmas ever with Betsy and it’s going to be fantastic.”