Avon and Somerset Police said they had to exhaust all avenues before they released a missing person's identity. The press release about the dog "in no way detracted" from the hunt for Mr Austin, the force said, adding that it was in close contact with his family.
Kessie, who went astray during the search for Mr Austin in Over Stowey, has been found safe and well. But Mr Austin, earlier described as vulnerable, is still missing. The appeal for Kessie was posted on the police website on the morning of Sunday April 4 and read: "Missing Dog: a black and tan medium size German Shepherd dog, answering to the name 'Kessie'.
Photo from here.
"This is an Avon and Somerset Police dog and carried a collar to that effect. Kessie was engaged in a search for a high-risk vulnerable missing person in the Great Woods area in Over Stowey at 7am this morning when (it) is believed she may have run off into a wooded area. She has not been seen since. There is currently an extensive search under way."
Mr Austin's name was not featured in the bulletin. The site was updated around an hour later with news of Kessie's safe return to duty. The appeal for Mr Austin was posted online just before 3am on April 5, the following morning. The press release said he had gone missing from his home in Cannington, near Bridgwater, and that there had been "possible sightings" of him in the Quantock Hills, at Over Stowey, and also in Watchet. Officers said they were becoming "increasingly concerned" for his welfare.
But Mr Austin's friends have accused the force of being insensitive about the timings of the appeals. Jo Ward, 43, said: "I do think it's rude and insensitive to the family the way they have done this. All of us have been out looking for Shane and in fairness the police have had a massive search for him out here and put a lot of resources into it. Maybe it's someone being totally and utterly thoughtless or maybe they value the dog, I don't know."
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