Walking through Nevis Gorge, the sound of Steall Falls is audible before it comes into view. The landscape shifts from rocky terrain to wide open grasslands interspersed with forests and bushes.
Among the dense foliage of Glen Nevis, you can see splashes of bright red paper. Contrary to what you might assume, these are not pieces of litter left behind by tourists. Instead, they are missing posters distributed by the family of Louie, a two-year-old golden retriever who vanished two weeks ago.
Louie’s owner, Louise Manson, and her daughters Ellie and Lara, no longer appreciate the stunning scenery of the surroundings. They visit daily, sometimes multiple times a day, to search for their beloved dog.
Louie used to go on walks in the area regularly. However, on the day he went missing, a family was passing by along with their toddler who was crying loudly. Louise thinks Louie might have sensed a deer and was distracted. As a result, he was spooked and ran off.
Louie plays a crucial role in the family, particularly for Ellie, who has epilepsy. Louie is a therapy dog for Ellie and has learned to alert the family when Ellie is about to have a seizure. The absence of Louie has been tough for Ellie, who avoids participating in the search as it is too upsetting when they fail to find him.
Louise and Ellie’s younger sister, Lara, have been conducting the majority of the search efforts with the help of the local community. Many have lent equipment and offered assistance. Louise admits that she wouldn’t have coped without the support from others. There have also been volunteers using drones to search the area.
Despite the difficulties, the family remains hopeful. Last weekend, a sniffer dog detected Louie’s scent on a blanket, and recently, they heard barking that sounded like it might be Louie. They believe he has gone into survival mode and will return once he picks up Louise’s scent.
In an effort to bring Louie back, Louise plans to camp out at Glen Nevis this weekend with clothes carrying her scent. She remains optimistic that they will eventually find him.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jun/15/hunt-missing-therapy-dog-epilepsy-highlands-scotland
