Ex-BBC journalist’s collie cross who was stolen then found dies aged 14

A former BBC journalist’s pet dog whose theft and subsequent recovery went viral thanks to a Twitter campaign has died at 14.

Cabbage, the collie cross of the BBC’s ex-technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones, trended on Twitter in November after she and five other dogs were taken when their dog walker’s van was stolen in Acton, West London.

Mr Cellan-Jones, 63, who thanked his 197,000 Twitter followers when all six dogs were found safely the same day, shared the news yesterday that ‘lovely, energetic’ Cabbage had died. 

Cabbage trended on Twitter in November after she and five other dogs were taken when their dog walker’s van was stolen in Acton, West London. Mr Cellan-Jones, 63, who thanked his 197,000 Twitter followers when all six dogs were found safely the same day, shared the news yesterday that ‘lovely, energetic’ Cabbage had died. (Above, the tweet posted after Cabbage was found)

He tweeted: ‘For 14 years she was a lovely, energetic and really smart member of our family.

‘It was time for her to go but we miss her so much.’

Cabbage already had an online following before she was stolen because Mr Cellan-Jones regularly documented their morning walks.

On Friday he shared a final photograph of Cabbage on her lead walking up to his front door, tweeting: ‘Home after a gentle stroll.’

Broadcaster Sophie Raworth offered her condolences, saying she ‘loved Cabbage’s adventures’.