A concerning story with an unexpectedly heartwarming ending has caught the attention of many Londoners lately. Isaac Reid, an American exchange student at the University of Walford reported missing four days ago, was found playing cheerfully with stray dogs at a dog park yesterday. Reid was recognised by a local dog owner who contacted police after realizing he was the missing teenager on the news.
Originally a Physics student at St. Davis University, Los Angeles, Reid was studying abroad at the University of Walford in London for the spring term. After a mental breakdown and quarrel with his flatmates in Reid’s student flat, where he was seen throwing glasses at walls, Reid left the accommodation distressed at 10:42 pm on the 13th of March. His flatmate Cheryl Baker filed a missing persons report with the police two days later when he did not return to the flat or attend his lectures. Understanding that Reid has a history of depression, Baker and her flatmates were worried about him as he seemed “very emotional and agitated” during their last conflict.
The Metropolitan Police began searching Reid’s university campus, student accommodation and its nearby area shortly after the report. Reid’s parents in Los Angeles received news of their son’s disappearance two days later and demanded London’s local police contact the US police and provide updated information on the case. Reid’s flatmates and university friends also started posting on social media, urging others to keep an eye out for him.
After a city-wide search, Reid was spotted four days later at Fulmore Gardens, a small dog park in the Lewisham area, by a local woman walking her dog. He was seen laughing and playing with some stray dogs in a secluded area of the park. “I saw him in the corner of the park alone with some dogs and thought he seemed familiar. Later, I realized he was the missing boy my daughter showed me on her Instagram,” the dog owner stated.
Reid’s parents and friends were relieved that he was found unharmed. The student explained to the police that he was feeling extremely homesick and stressed due to his exams, with the University of Walford having one of the most prestigious Physics programs worldwide. He said his anxiety was unbearable and he had constant thoughts about his dog Olly back home, who used to calm him whenever he felt troubled or unhappy. Thus, when he ran out of his student accommodation and bumped into a stray dog, he related to its loneliness and found solace in its company. He then stayed around parks, surviving on simple meals from street stalls for days.
There have been numerous cases of stressed university students trying to escape their demanding school and work life in the past few years. Recent studies reveal that 80% of university students feel stressed, with one-third of them having experienced issues in which they felt the need to seek professional help.
Psychologists and animal welfare organisations do not suggest Reid’s approach to relieving stress, despite the warm and unexpected story of the bond between human, canine and nature. However, they do believe that exploring nature and participating in outdoor activities are healthy routes to do so. It is suggested that smartphones and social media are major reasons for anxiety among young people, especially with the increase in screen time since the Covid pandemic. Animals can also be a solution to overwhelming pressure, with research showing that even ten minutes of petting an animal can lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the human body. Visiting nature is shown to have similar effects as well. Hence, an RSPCA campaign is now focusing on mental health and reconnecting Gen Z with nature, holding four events in the London Royal Parks, allowing young people, especially those without a pet at home, to play with rescue dogs and participate in dog-walking events as a form of stress relief. This provides young people with the de-stressing opportunity they need, a moment to get away from their worries and reconnect with nature and animals.
*This story was written in collaboration with RSPCA and London Royal Parks.