GUIDE dog volunteers are breathing a huge sigh of relief after missing dog Purdie was discovered in Battersea Dogs Home.

The 18-month-old German shepherd, who was stolen in April while training in Woodford Bridge, was handed in to the famous dogs home on Thursday and identified by microchip.

She had lost some weight and had a nasty cyst on her foot but was otherwise in good spirits, says relieved senior trainer Ruth Graham from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Ms Graham told the Guardian: "She has lost some weight, about 10 to 11 pounds. She used to suffer from an upset tummy and was on a special diet which is why she has probably shed some weight.

"However, she doesn't look skinny and her coat is in excellent condition. She had quite a nasty cyst on her foot but has received treatment for it and is doing really well. She's certainly not showing any mental scars of being badly treated." Purdie had initially been handed in to Limehouse police station on Wednesday by an anonymous visitor and was later picked up by staff from Battersea Dogs Home on their usual routine collections.

Ms Graham said: "Thank God for the microchip which traced Purdie back to us. Our next aim is to get her back into peak health and we'll be observing her behaviour over the next few weeks. Ss long as she's showing she's happy and relaxed, we're very hopeful. We'll make sure guiding is the right thing for her, but we'll definitely need to recap on her progress."

Purdie was left in a van in Greenstead Avenue, off Snakes Lane, at the end of April during a routine training exercise when she was snatched.

She was about to embark on the last three months of her training before qualifying as a guide dog and being matched up with a new owner.

July 18, 2002 13:00