Dachshund Frank goes missing and is found on a bus heading on an 18-mile trip to the seaside 


Ruff rider! Dachshund Frank goes missing from family home… only for family to discover he hopped on bus and took 18-mile trip to the seaside

  • The dachshund went missing from his Colchester home in Essex on Tuesday 
  • Michelle Ballard, 29, was left ‘fearing the worst’ as her dog Frank fled from a walk
  • She rounded up friends to hunt for her dachshund in High Woods Country Park 
  • He was spotted nearly 20 miles away on a route 61 bus to Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
  • Michelle and her partner Jon were contacted by a passenger and organised a reunion

A cheeky sausage dog who went missing from his family home was found on board a bus heading for the seaside nearly 20 miles away.

Michelle Ballard, 29, rushed around in a desperate hunt for her dachshund Frank but couldn’t see him anywhere in her Colchester home, Essex.  

The mother-of-one quickly hastily rounded up around 30 people, consisting of friends, family and dog walkers, as they searched the nearby High Woods Country Park on February 11.

Michelle Ballard (pictured), 29, was left distraught and 'fearing the worst' as her beloved dachshund Frank (pictured) went missing from their family home in Colchester, Essex. She rounded up nearly 40 people, including friends, family and dog walkers for a desperate hunt

Michelle Ballard (pictured), 29, was left distraught and ‘fearing the worst’ as her beloved dachshund Frank (pictured) went missing from their family home in Colchester, Essex. She rounded up nearly 40 people, including friends, family and dog walkers for a desperate hunt

It was only when she put her appeal out on social media that she was told her beloved pet had been spotted on a bus bound for the tourist destination of Clacton-on-Sea.

He was spotted wandering and minding his own business near to a bus stop shortly before departing on the number 61 at around 3.30pm. 

In a lucky turn of events, a passenger spotted the hound on the bus and took him to Clacton with the plan of visiting the vet’s to find out who owned him. 

The mischievous four-year-old dog was spotted on a bus (pictured) bound for the tourist destination of Clacton-on-Sea, nearly 20 miles away. He was rescued by a passenger who then found Michelle's Facebook campaign to find him and gave her a message

The mischievous four-year-old dog was spotted on a bus (pictured) bound for the tourist destination of Clacton-on-Sea, nearly 20 miles away. He was rescued by a passenger who then found Michelle's Facebook campaign to find him and gave her a message

The mischievous four-year-old dog was spotted on a bus (pictured) bound for the tourist destination of Clacton-on-Sea, nearly 20 miles away. He was rescued by a passenger who then found Michelle’s Facebook campaign to find him and gave her a message

Michelle’s online campaign to find her beloved pooch was spotted by the good samaritan’s family and Frank was reunited with relieved Michelle and her family later that evening.

The frantic owner said Frank’s disappearance was completely out of character and joked how he wanted a day at the so-called Essex Sunshine Coast.  

Graphic shows the distance between Highwoods Country Park, where Frank was walking with his owner, and his bus journey to Clacton-on-Sea

Graphic shows the distance between Highwoods Country Park, where Frank was walking with his owner, and his bus journey to Clacton-on-Sea

Graphic shows the distance between Highwoods Country Park, where Frank was walking with his owner, and his bus journey to Clacton-on-Sea

‘I think he must have fancied a trip to the beach and a day out at Clacton. What on earth was that all about?’

The property manager revealed her beloved pooch had never been on a bus before and it was the first time he disappeared. 

‘I keep wondering if he was sat on a seat looking out of the window dreaming about his day at the seaside.’ 

Frank was then reunited with the mother-of-one (pictured) and her husband Jon. She counts herself lucky and dreads to think what would have happened if her sausage dog had not fallen into the hands of 'such a kind person'

Frank was then reunited with the mother-of-one (pictured) and her husband Jon. She counts herself lucky and dreads to think what would have happened if her sausage dog had not fallen into the hands of 'such a kind person'

Frank was then reunited with the mother-of-one (pictured) and her husband Jon. She counts herself lucky and dreads to think what would have happened if her sausage dog had not fallen into the hands of ‘such a kind person’

She’s asked the bus company for the CCTV footage of the incident but was told it was not available.  

The mother was left ‘fearing the worst’ and ‘crying [her] eyes out’ as the beloved pup fled from Michelle and her son Freddie at the park.   

‘I thought a bus driver would have noticed and not let him on but maybe he boarded when someone was paying.’  

His owner is hoping to get hold of the CCTV to see 'if he was sat on a seat looking out of the window dreaming about his day at the seaside'

His owner is hoping to get hold of the CCTV to see 'if he was sat on a seat looking out of the window dreaming about his day at the seaside'

She described Frank as a teenager as he 'has a lie-in every morning and doesn't come downstairs'

She described Frank as a teenager as he 'has a lie-in every morning and doesn't come downstairs'

Michelle revealed her beloved pooch (pictured) had never been on a bus before and it was the first time he disappeared

Her Facebook appeal was shared nearly 700 times in an hour.  

Michelle’s friend, who shared the post, was messaged by a man called Michal and they arranged a reunion.

Frank was then collected by Michelle’s partner, Jon, 35. 

Essex Sunshine Coast: Frank was minding his own business as he headed on the number 61 to the tourist hot-spot of Clacton (pictured, file image)

Essex Sunshine Coast: Frank was minding his own business as he headed on the number 61 to the tourist hot-spot of Clacton (pictured, file image)

Essex Sunshine Coast: Frank was minding his own business as he headed on the number 61 to the tourist hot-spot of Clacton (pictured, file image)

And now Michelle counts herself lucky and dreads to think what would have happened if her sausage dog had not fallen into the hands of ‘such a kind person’. 

‘He’s four years old but it’s like having a teenager around the house as he has a lie-in every morning and doesn’t come downstairs.’  

Michelle and Jon have one boy, Freddie, two, and another sausage dog, Charlie, also two.

They are now hoping to get hold of CCTV of their dog’s day out but have so far been unsuccessful.