by Karina Barker

A dog who went missing when out for a walk was found a while later... propping up the bar in a pub over half a mile away!

Meg, a 17-year old collie, is deaf and almost blind.

Her owners Barbara and Kenneth Goodenough, from Cliffsend, were walking her at Government Acre in Ramsgate last Wednesday when she disappeared.

Barbara said: "We stopped to look over the railings literally for a few seconds, but when we turned round, she was gone."

The couple searched the clifftop and asked around 40 people if they had seen Meg, but no-one had.

Eventually, they heard that a dog had wandered into the Belle Vue Tavern in Pegwell Road, and was being fussed over by staff.

Barbara said: "She's been to pubs before, so maybe she realised they are friendly places to head for – although she's never been to that one so it's amazing she managed it, especially as it is on a busy road and she's deaf and blind.

"Maybe she just recognises the smell of beer and fancied a drink!"

The Goodenoughs bought the pub staff a bunch of flowers to say thank you.
Barbara said: "We're just really grateful to everyone who helped us look and would like to let them know that the story had a happy ending."

Although Meg may not agree, as being 17, she is, of course, underage, and not allowed to drink the beer she went out of her way to find.