Missing dog that escaped from airport reunited with owners after a month

A dog which went missing for a month has been reunited with its owners after escaping from an airport in Australia.

Milo, a Jack Russell cross, fled from the care of a pet handler in Melbourne Airport as its owners boarded a flight to the UK.

Jason Whatnall, who lives in Swansea, Wales, said finding out his dog was missing had been “extremely concerning and upsetting”.

Mr Whatnall, who collected Milo from Heathrow Airport on Friday, told the BBC: “It feels amazing to have him back. We can get on with our life ... with our little man by our side.”

Upon being reunited, Mr Whatnall said: “He jumped right up into my arms. He was squeaking and making all kinds of noises. I think he’d been looking for us for a long time.”

Milo is thought to have “bolted” from a pet handler and was lost for the next 17 days.

The pet was spotted several times following an online campaign.

Milo was eventually caught by an animal rescue charity.

Lenny Thomas from Petraveller, a pet handler company in Melbourne who helped locate the dog told the broadcaster: “We stepped in then to take care of Milo and to ensure the safe relocation from Australia to the UK.”

Mr Whatnall said help from Petraveller had restored his faith in the pet industry.

However, he was critical of Aeropets, the company responsible for Milo when he escaped.

He added: “It’s expected that when you’re paying a lot of money to a travel company that they take the utmost care of your pet.

“To find out that he was lost, and they really didn’t know where, was extremely concerning and upsetting.”

After the experience, Mr Whatnall said he will “never” travel with Milo again.

Aeropets was contacted for comment.