A SHEEP which had been missing for several days and required the help of three fire crews to be safely rescued from a canal has been returned to its owner.
Firefighters from Caversham Road waved goodbye to Dolly earlier this afternoon.
The distressed sheep was safely pulled out by animal and water rescue specialists at around 3.20pm on Sunday, March 26 from the Kennet and Avon Canal.
A member of the public alerted police when they spotted something unusual near the Rose Kiln Lane next to the A33.
Crews from Caversham Road, Wokingham Road and Whitley Wood fire stations and the police all attended the rescue operation.
Crew manager Charlie Bell from Caversham Road said: "We just fished a sheep out of the Kennet and Avon Canal down by the A33 near Rose Kiln Lane Bridge and the Hilton Hotel.
"We pulled it out of the water and now we have got it with us back at the station, but we can't find the owner.
"The police attended and so did Wokingham Road and Whitley Wood.
"A member of the public informed the police when they saw something in the canal.
"There have been several calls of sheep running across the road and we were alerted by police to attend.
"It was a real team effort in the end. We are the animal and water rescue team and we sent two swimmers into the water to pull it out.
"We think it has been on the loose for a couple of days."
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