It looked like being a very unhappy New Year's for the Slystone family here in Leicester, as they mourned the unfortunate disappearance of the family pet, Lassie the sheepdog, on a day trip to Skegness in September.
What they didn't realise was that Lassie had been accidentally locked into a freight container and shipped out to Siberia.
The dogged dog, determined to make it back to the family home, but lacking much sense of direction, sneaked aboard a crab fishing boat and managed to jib her way across the Bering straits into Alaska.
She then crossed the entire USA on paw, before sneaking on board an ocean liner bound for Southampton. On board the ship, a kindly passenger and his wife residents of South Carolina in the US, took pity on the pitifully bedraggled pooch, fed and watered her and nursed her back to health on the voyage.
A tearful parting followed at Southampton, as Lassie, determined to be reunited with her rightful owners, headed north in driving rain. The further north the determined doggie headed, the greater the obstacles she faced.
After braving the M25 and the M1, the by now re-bedraggled, but loyal collie bitch, headed through Braunston and through Leicester City centre as she headed doggedly for home.
She arrived, malnourished again through her exertions, at seven am on New Year's Eve morning.
After a several thousand mile unassisted in any way journey of utter love and devotion.
Mr Slystone promptly told Lassie:
"Get in your fuckin' corner! I'm off back to bed."
Lassie was said to be elated.
More as we get it.
