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Spring 2007 Issue No 20
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Bloomsbury's Celebrity Dog
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Spring 2007 Issue No 20
Bloomsbury's Celebrity Dog
It isn’t often that Bloomsbury News reports on a “missing dog” story. But when Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Elsa, took a January stroll in Russell Square, she was about to fuel a media frenzy like no other.
In an exclusive for Bloomsbury News, Elsa’s owner explains how his pooch hit the headlines and lived to tell the tale!
On the day she went missing, Elsa was making herself comfortable at David Murray’s house on Southampton Way. His son, Owen, grew up in Bloomsbury and trusted his parents to take good care of his favourite pet while he was away.
When David decided to take Elsa for a stroll, they both headed for Russell Square, a popular destination for dog walkers in the area. As he was about to leave, David realized Elsa had disappeared and the family was thrown into a panic.
They started with a poster campaign across the Bloomsbury area, and put up a £350 reward for Elsa’s return. From the off, Owen was struck by everyone’s concern:
“Even when we were putting the posters up, people really wanted to help us out. It was upsetting everyone to know she hadn’t been found.”
As the weeks went by, Owen realized he needed more than posters and missing pet websites to get Elsa back. His prayers were finally answered when comedy legend and long-term Bloomsbury resident, Ricky Gervais, decided to intervene. Gervais offered to up the reward to £1000 and Elsa hit the headlines.
When the Evening Standard picked up the story, BBC news reporters and Channel Four producers weren’t far behind. Owen soon found himself on prime-time television being interview by Richard and Judy. Astonishingly, a viewer in Portsmouth recognized the dog sitting next to her from a photo used on the show.
It later emerged that the woman’s boyfriend had purchased Elsa from a Big Issue seller in Finchley, North London. After contacting the Murrays by email, the couple eventually agreed to return the dog.
“She was a bit skinny and it took a while for her to get her wits about her but she’s absolutely fine now. She’s always been a really lively, happy dog and it’s amazing to have her back. We’re over the moon!”
But there was no time to sit back and relax for Elsa. A few days later, Owen was back on Richard and Judy with his A-List pet alongside him to thank Ricky Gervais and the public for all their help.
In the past year, there has been a steep rise in the theft of bull terriers in London. According to the Metropolitan Police, 417 dogs were kidnapped in 2005/2006, up 74% from the previous year. More than half of the dogs taken were Staffordshire Bull Terriers, with many taken as puppies. Because the breed is so protective, police believe some are used by criminals to guard stolen property.
Contrary to popular belief Staffordshire Bull Terriers are extremely well natured which also makes them an easy target for dog snatchers. For Elsa, at least, her disastrous walk in Russell Square now has a happy ending, much to the relief of her family and dog lovers across Bloomsbury.
