Colin Butcher - Molly and Me: An extraordinary tale of second chances and how a dog and her owner became the ultimate pet-detective duo

Following high-ranking careers with the Royal Navy and Surrey Police, Colin Butcher established The UK Pet Detectives in 2005. It has since become the market leader in the investigation of crimes against animals, and each year recovers hundreds of lost and stolen pets. An expert in the field of pet detection, Colins vast experience as a crime investigator has given him an unrivalled insight into the behaviour of missing dogs and cats.

I have dedicated my book to my brother David, who died just short of his twenty-first birthday, in the arms of his young wife, Katrina. In all the years that he struggled so ardently to defeat that awful disease, I never once heard him complain, he just soaked up everything life threw at him and soldiered on, always hoping that the doctors would make him better. To this day, I feel that my brother is watching over me, inspiring me to do the very best I can. He never gave up, so neither will I, and its only with his guidance that I have managed to complete my journey with Molly. We proved the doubters wrong, David, and achieved what so many said could not be done. I only wish you were around to see it.

To my parents, I want to say thank you for allowing me the freedom to explore the natural world of Malaysia, Singapore and England, for the many animals you brought into my life and for press-ganging me into the Royal Navy. By the way, Im sorry about the mice. I know you always thought it was the cats that were bringing them home.

My journey from police officer to private sleuth and, finally, pet detective has been an incredibly rewarding experience and throughout my book I have given recognition to those who inspired or supported me along the way. There are, however, a few who I think are worthy of additional praise.

Both Sam and Stefan have left the company to follow different paths, but they remain good friends and always will be. The three of us had some amazing adventures together, both as private sleuths and as pet detectives, and I could not have built UKPD without their loyalty and support. I am forever indebted to them.

Thank you to my good friend and canine guru Anna Webb. But for her, I would never have met the amazing team at Medical Detection Dogs. To Dr Claire Guest, Dr Astrid Concha, Rob Harris and Mark Doggett, to all the volunteers and Mollys foster family. You did a great job. Molly is a star.

To my agents Rowan Lawton and Eugenie Furniss, thank you for putting your trust in me and for allowing me to tell my story my way, and to the Furniss and Lawton team, Rory, Rachel, Liane and Lucy, thank you for all your hard work in bringing my book to a global audience. My heartfelt thanks go to Joanne Lake, who has brought so much depth and colour to my story and whose patience, expert advice and skill has helped to create such a wonderful tale. Thank you, Zennor Compton, whose enthusiasm and energy ensured I selected the right publisher and to my editor, Charlotte Hardman, for her insight and professionalism and her ability to enhance the story.

To my darling Sarah, who has been so incredibly supportive and understanding over the last few years, for her intuition and wise counsel and, most of all, for accepting my troublesome and mischievous spaniel into her life.

Then there is my amazing, enchanting and adorable sidekick Molly. Without her, none of this would have been possible. She tests me relentlessly, always surprises me and never lets me down. She really is one in a million.

Finally, to all the pet owners who have put their faith and trust in Molly and Me. Thank you for allowing us into your lives. We enjoyed meeting every single one of you.

At 9 a.m. on Friday, 3 February 2017, just as my assistant, Sam, had settled at her desk, booted up her computer and taken her first sip of espresso, the telephone rang. I was outside on the Bramble Hill Farm driveway, preparing to exercise Molly in the early-morning sun. My cocker spaniel had woken up in a particularly frisky mood so much so that shed knocked over my girlfriend Sarahs favourite Lladr vase in the hallway and she needed to run off some excess energy.

UK Pet Detectives, said Sam, picking up the phone. Can we help?

I really hope so, replied a glum male voice. Our cat, Rusty, has gone missing. Weve looked everywhere, but theres no sign of her. Weve hit a brick wall, really, so we thought wed give you guys a call.

Tim was a graphic designer who lived in the Hertfordshire city of St Albans with his physiotherapist girlfriend, Jasmine. They were saving hard for a deposit for a two-bedroomed house, but in the meantime were renting a modest first-floor apartment in a quiet cul-de-sac. The couple shared a love of cats and had gladly welcomed little Rusty into their lives, a black, white and copper rescue moggy with almond-shaped eyes and a long fluffy tail. Since the flat was pretty cramped many of their personal belongings were still boxed up they often let their cat outdoors; there, shed mooch around the crescent, lazing on driveways and sitting on doorsteps, neither straying too far nor staying out late.

The previous Friday, however, Rusty had failed to turn up for her weekly treat of steamed haddock she adored her fresh fish and her owners were totally flummoxed.

Its just so out of character, Tim told Sam. Weve spent the whole weekend searching in streets and gardens weve even printed out leaflets and posters but shes nowhere to be found. Were at a total loss.

Im so sorry to hear that, said Sam, who being a cat owner herself genuinely felt their pain. Leave it with me. Ill have a word with my boss and Ill get back to you.

She promptly bounded over to the large sash window and yanked it up.

COLIN! she yelled, causing Molly and me to stop dead in our tracks as we strode towards the meadow. Make sure you pop in after your training session. Think I might have found Mollys first proper job

Fast-forward half an hour and I was sitting in the office discussing Rustys disappearance with Sam while a bushwhacked Molly enjoyed a snooze. I felt my pulse quicken as my colleague reiterated her conversation with Tim and outlined the missing pets circumstances. If our inaugural cat-seeking assignment was to be a success, the search conditions had to be as favourable as possible and this seemed to tick all the boxes. Firstly, Rusty came from a single-cat household, thus enabling me to obtain a decent hair sample and giving Molly the best chance of isolating the scent and matching it to the lost cat. Secondly, the puss had been missing for less than a week, which increased the likelihood of finding it alive. Also working in our favour was the fact that the weather was calm and settled, unseasonably so, in fact, for early February. Any excessive winds or any form of precipitation (rain, snow or mist, for example) would dilute the cat scent and would interfere with my dogs ultra-sensitive nose.

Luckily, as a former serviceman, I was well versed in all things meteorological and geographical. Prior to my long career in the police force Id spent over a decade in the Royal Navy, which had prompted a serious interest in weather, climate and coastal navigation. I had studied all subjects voraciously in my cabin on HMS Illustrious, expanding my scientific knowledge of air masses, frontal systems and cartography, for instance, and had become something of an expert. Little did I know then how useful this knowledge would become in the world of pet detection.