Dog catches bus by himself from Sturry to Canterbury
Published: 13:19, 17 November 2021
Updated: 15:14, 17 November 2021
An adventurous dog has caused drama after hopping on a bus alone and riding it into the city.
The three-year-old shih tzu, named Teddy, has had quite the morning after strolling onto the service in Sturry, near Canterbury.
The driver had presumed the "happy and playful" little dog was with another passenger.
It was only when the bus arrived in Canterbury that the driver realised he was unaccompanied, and took him to the Stagecoach office at the city's bus station.
Stagecoach workers were able to trace Teddy's owner, Christine Ricketts, through contact details on his name tag and she rushed to pick him up.
Miss Ricketts, 52, says her garden gate had blown open, allowing her beloved dog to escape.
She says it is "brilliant" to have Teddy home, and thanked the bus staff who took him in.
"It's just devastating when they go missing," she said. "You panic and you think the worst."
She says that now he is safe, she finds the thought of her dog waiting at a bus stop "quite funny".
"I'm just grateful to the bus people," she said.
"They were lovely. I'm so glad they looked after him, they were really great."
One member of staff even gave Miss Ricketts his tie as a makeshift lead.
A Stagecoach spokesman said: "While waiting for his mother to come and collect him, he's been playing in our office and keeping staff thoroughly entertained.
"Teddy is very happy and playful and he's made friends with everyone, so we don't want to say goodbye."
Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.
Read more: All the latest news from Canterbury
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Lydia Chantler-Hicks