AN abandoned dog has been given a home after she stole the hearts of a couple on holiday in Greece.

Allison Cain and her husband Neil, of Kermoor Avenue, Sharples, were on their last day of their holiday, in Skiathos, when they came across a sad-looking dog.

The two-year-old Jack Russell-terrier cross followed Mr Cain more than a mile to the beach to meet his wife and remained at the couple’s side for the day, even following them to a nearby restaurant for lunch.

The couple contacted Skiathos Animal Shelter and made attempts to find the dog’s owner.

As part of their appeal to find her owner they decided to post her picture on a Facebook page, called Old Boomerangs, made up of tourists and ex-pats.

Sadly the couple had come to the end of their holiday and had to leave the island and their new furry friend, none the wiser as to who owned her.

But a week later the couple heard news of the dog, from a woman on Facebook.

Mrs Cain, aged 51, said: “A lovely woman had found the dog in the mountains and was trying to find out who she belonged to.

“We were devastated to hear that the sweet little dog we’d fallen in love with had been tied up and left out in the rain.

“We contacted the woman and Neil chatted to her on Facetime and explained that we had lost our beloved cocker spaniel Sally in July and we would really like to adopt this little lady.”

Through the animal shelter, the couple agreed to adopt the dog, who was named Lucy and she was transported from Skiathos on a four-day road trip with a courier.

She arrived in the UK on October 9 and the couple picked up their rescued pet from Knutsford, just over a month since they had first met Lucy on their beach holiday on September 1.

Mrs Cain added: “Lucy now has a home with us forever.

“We’re thrilled to bits to have a new member of our family.

“If it wasn’t for the power of social media who knows what would have happened to her.

“She’s absolutely adorable and everyone who meets her is charmed, not only by her character, but also by the story of how Neil and I found her.”

To donate to the Skiathos Animal Shelter contact: www.greekaniamalrescue.com