Police dog found after going missing while chasing deer

A police dog that went missing near Loch Ness on Sunday morning has been found safe and well.

Police Scotland said Fergie was being walked off-lead in a remote area west of Drumnadrochit when she ran off after a deer.

Police said the German Shepherd was “kind and friendly”, but had warned anyone who encountered Fergie not to run away or towards her “under any circumstances”.

The three-year-old police dog (PD) has now been reunited with its handler.

Fergie was being walked in area north of the A831 near Polmaily House when a deer bolted in front of her.

Officers received a reported sighting two hours after she went missing.

She was found at about 14:50 on Monday not far from where she ran off.

Ch Insp Gordon Fotheringham, who heads up the police dog unit for the north of Scotland, said: “Following searches PD Fergie has been traced and is now back with her handler.

“We are all delighted and we would like to thank everyone who shared and responded to our appeal.”

The senior officer said it was unusual for a police dog to go missing, and her handler had been upset by the incident.

Ch Insp Fotheringham told BBC Scotland News Fergie had acted completely out of character.

He said: “They’ve seen a deer and taken off.

“Normally with these dogs their recall is absolutely fantastic because they are trained to such a high level, but as can happen sometimes dogs can return to their natural instincts.”

Specialist search teams were looking for the dog.