MP Charlie Elphicke's dog has lucky escape in St Margaret's cliff fall
Parliamentary top dog Star Elphicke gave the Deal and Dover
MP a sleepless night when she fell and got stuck down a cliff face
close to his home.
Charlie Elphicke's four-year-old Norwich terrier, who won
Westminster Dog of the Year last month, went missing on Sunday
after being let out into the garden of the family home in St
Margaret's.
After a fretful night searching in frosty conditions, she was
discovered on the next morning by Mr Elphicke's wife Natalie.
Mr Elphicke, pictured left with Star, said: "She slid down
a steep incline of about 15-20ft and got stuck there.
"She could have fallen further but there were lots of bushes and
brambles that were in the way."
Star is the treasured pet of Mr Elphicke's children, aged 12 and
six.
Mr Elphicke said: "I don't know what we would've done if she had
been snatched or was gone for good.
"It's bad enough losing a dog anyway, but the Parliamentary
dog""
A quiet dog by nature, Mr Elphicks said Star is "very
polite".
Despite calling her during a frantic family search throughout
the night and morning, she eventually barked - enabling Mrs
Elphicke to find her and climb down to bring her back to
safety.
"We were all beside ourselves and so relieved when we found
her.
"When we got her back we spoiled her with lots of sausages and
doggie treats."
Norwich terriers were given their name because their ears are
supposed to be like the spire on Norwich Cathedral.
Star won the coveted title of Westminster Dog of the Year after
battling it out among the MPs and their dogs.
She competed against retrievers, greyhounds and labradors, as
well as many other breeds, at Victoria Tower Gardens,
Westminster.
The competition is organised by the Dogs Trust and The Kennel
Club and encourages an open dialogue on dog welfare issues.
Now she is home safe, Mr Elphicke said: "I'm sure Star will be
more careful in future."
05/12/12
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