Louie

"A family were passing us, the kids were upset, the rain was pouring and Louie slipped his lead," she said.

The family checked the river and scanned the area, going in different directions, but there was no sign of Louie.

Louie, a two-year-old golden retriever, is trained to let 17-year-old Ellie Lynn's family know when she is about to have an epileptic seizure.

The family's hopes were raised at the weekend when a tracker dog picked up his scent after first smelling Louie's blanket.

She said that when Louie went missing it was raining and the path was very narrow.