A couple spends their wedding anniversary looking for their dog after it escapes from a sitter

Daniel and Rachel Munday spent 28 hours searching for their cocker spaniel puppy Crash after he ran away from their dog sitter – spending their first night as a married couple in their car

A newly married couple spent their wedding day looking for their dog after he escaped while they were saying their vows and went missing for 28 hours.

Daniel and Rachel Munday spent their first night as husband and wife in their car after cocker spaniel puppy Crash escaped from their dog sitter.

Members of the wedding party trudged through the fields in their suits and dresses as they combed forests in the pouring rain on May 14 in search of the missing puppy.

The couple had tied the knot at 1pm in Oakham, Rutland before their big day took an unexpected turn when the maid of honor was contacted by the dog sitter.

Crash had been on foot but refused to get back into the van before speeding into the nearby woods around 11am while the couple exchanged their vows.

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At 4 p.m., family members, friends and guests left the festivities to help search for the missing eight-month-old Crash.

Rachel, 32, changed out of her flowy white dress with sleeves into a hoodie and track pants, while Daniel, 37, stayed in a shirt and suspenders.

Crash still eluded them as the sun went down, and Daniel and Rachel slept in their car for two hours on their first night as husband and wife.

The next day, they enlisted the help of a drone operator, Phil James, who specializes in finding lost dogs.

The mischievous pooch was finally found around 3pm with the help of a heat-seeking drone in a wooded area near the village of Ridlington, Rutland.

Rachel, an admin manager from Cottersmore, Rutland, said: “It hasn’t been how we expected the big day to lie ahead.

“Crash was with a dog sitter who lived about half an hour from us. She took him for walks and took off the leash as usual, and some dogs scared him.

“He didn’t want to get in the van and ran away. He ran and crossed a road and entered a wooded area.

“The day had gone so well, the rain was our only concern at first. We had our reception at Dan’s mother’s house. It was wonderful.

“The dog sitter called the maid of honor’s sister first so as not to disturb us and she went to help search for an hour.

“But then they knew they had to tell us, and before we knew it, 80 percent of the wedding party was looking for Crash.

“I had a change of clothes there, which was lucky because I didn’t want to ruin my wedding dress, but I didn’t think too much about it at the time. I just wanted to find Crash.

“Everyone else was out in their wedding attire. My mother was in her mother of the bride outfit, trudging through the woods.

“We later found out that wasn’t the right thing to do, a lot of people called him. It probably just scared him more.

“When it got dark we settled in for the night and slept in our car, ready to continue the search when it got light again.

“We were really worried. A lot of times I said, ‘Am I in a dream?’ because it just didn’t feel real.

“I thought I shouldn’t spend my wedding day like this. It was all so surreal.”

The search party was also joined by dozens of strangers after the family posted an appeal on Facebook.

Another dog sitter who joined the proposed search contacted Drone to Home, run by volunteer Phil.

Rachel added: “Phil came and checked two miles of open fields for us in two minutes.

“We knew what area he was in so he could position himself in that area. Phil was great, he came in with so much confidence.

“We then sighted him and two minutes later my father-in-law called and said he was in the car.

“I was absolutely blown away that day, but when we found Crash he was completely dry and fine – unlike the rest of us.

“We were just so relieved. We are so thankful for all the help we have received from people. So many people have offered their help.”

Welcomed home with a wedding cake, Crash was reunited with his half-brother, Bobby.

Daniel and Rachel now plan to make up for their lost celebrations with a belated wedding barbecue.

Daniel, an executive at a precision engineering company, added: “I thought it would only take 10 minutes to find Crash, that he would end up coming to the wedding party, and it would be a funny anecdote.

“I didn’t have time to change when we went searching and the wedding attire wasn’t the most comfortable. I’m covered in scratches and blisters.

“We feared the worst and were really scared. We’re just so grateful for everyone who came out to help.”

Do you have a dog story for sale? Email paige.freshwater@reachplc.com.