Community spirit in hunt for missing Fareham dog Arlo was 'heartwarming'

That is the message from members of the search party for three-year-old Arlo, who was found dead on a railway line yesterday.

Nicki Scriven from Lost Dog Recovery helped to co-ordinate the search after Arlo went missing on a walk near Henry Cort Community College, on Christmas Day last year.

She said: ‘It’s a devastating end to the search and not the news anyone wanted to hear.

‘My heart breaks for Lisa and the rest of her family, it’s an awful thing to happen.

‘But we had some amazing people helping to look for Arlo – there was a group of more than 30 people who worked together to put up posters and search for him.

‘Everyone was doing their best to track him down and that really was very heartwarming.’

It is believed that Arlo was chasing another animal when he found his way to the railway line.

He was discovered by Network Rail, which then reported the fatality.

‘Dogs can go into survival mode pretty quickly,’ Nicki said.

‘I think Arlo may have been chasing something and unfortunately got onto the line.

‘It’s a very tragic accident.’

An animal-sized hole in the ground has been found which leads to the railway line, which may have been used by Arlo.

The hole will be filled in this weekend.