After missing for one week from his Ballymena home, much-loved Baloo, the seven-year-old Newfoundland was sadly discovered dead earlier today (Thursday 8 August).
It is a devastating blow for the gentle giant’s loving family who have been searching for him near and far, night and day since he uncharacteristically disappeared from his home in the Broughshane Road area of the town on Wednesday 31 July.
It was only yesterday that the family made a fresh appeal for help in finding Baloo:
“Baloo went missing from our garden one week ago. There have been no sightings of him since.
“I walked Lilo and Baloo with the kids along the new link road by the Ecos on the evening of Wednesday 31 July 2024. We returned home at approximately 9:45pm. We left the dogs in the back garden as usual and put the kids to bed and watched TV.
“When my husband went out to put the dogs in for the night just before 12:30am, Baloo was missing. We heard no barking or anything unusual. We searched for him until 2:30am. We hoped someone had taken him in for the night and we would get him back the following morning.
”Baloo has never wandered or left Lilo before. This is completely out of character.”
The family described him as friendly, adding:
“We miss him desperately and really want him home. Please if you any information relating to Baloo, let us know. If you have Baloo, please leave him somewhere safe and alert someone to his location so we can get him home safely.”
Sadly, it is understood the local council dog warden attended a scene in the area of Johnston Close in Ballymena where a Newfoundland dog was discovered.
A spokesperson for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has since confirmed the sad news of Baloo, saying:
“Council’s Enforcement Officers sadly found Baloo’s remains today in Ballymena and are currently liaising with the family.”
It is understood an autopsy will be carried out to determine the cause of death.
The family have not yet released a statement.