Doggie disappearances in Waterloo

The miniature schnauzer disappeared when Bronwhyn left her out the front of her house to go inside and answer the phone. “When I came back out she had just gone,” said Ms Bourke.

Several dogs have gone missing in the Waterloo area in recent months. At present, seven dogs are missing. The number of disappearances spiked over the Christmas period when eight dogs, including Bridget, went missing.

“I met a guy in the park the other day that thought Bridget might have been his. His dog has been missing for two-and-a-half months, a couple of weeks after Bridget disappeared,” said Ms Bourke.

To get her pooch back, Ms Bourke employed the help of Lee Jefferies, owner of ‘Pet Search’, a company dedicated to helping pets find their way back home.

When looking for a lost dog, Mr Jefferies says the rule of thumb is to get as many people involved as possible.

“The problem with dogs is they are very good at getting lost but not very good at finding their way back home. The other problem is that people fear if they hand dogs in, they will be put down. So they keep the dog and wait for any news or information, rather then risk it.”

After an extensive search campaign for Bridget, which included a massive poster campaign, sent to vets, dog groomers, doctor’s surgeries and local shops, Bridget was still nowhere to be found.

“We have a 90 percent success rate of finding pets in the first two weeks,” says Mr Jefferies. “So when Bridget didn’t show up, alarm bells started ringing and we got worried.”

Also on the case was Elizabeth Boag, owner of the local news agency in Waterloo. Known in the local area as a dog lover and volunteer at Monika’s Doggie Rescue, an organisation that rescues dogs about to be put down by the pound, Ms Boag spread the word and added Bridget to her list of missing dogs.

“Bridget is not the only missing dog in the area. It is quite peculiar… in one case a dog was taken from a balcony. I don’t know what to make of it,” she said.

After three long months of searching, Bridget was found late at night, wet, scared and desperate, running across McEvoy Street in the middle of a storm.

According to Pet Search, it is quite common for dogs to escape and get lost during stormy weather. “They tend to get frantic and work their way out,” says Mr Jefferies.

When Bridget was found, Ms Bourke was surprised to find that Bridget’s ID tags and collar had been tampered with. “Her ID tags had been taken off,” she said, “and her red patent leather collar, which had red diamantes on it had been turned inside out so it looked like an old grey one”.

Whether Bridget was taken or merely wandered off is still a mystery, but both Elizabeth Boag from Doggie Rescue and Lee Jefferies from Pet Search stress the importance of handing dogs in.

“Don’t let a dog roam. Pick it up and bring it to us or to a vet. Most dogs are micro- chipped now and can be taken home. If not, we’ll find them one,” says Ms Boag.

Mr Jefferies reiterates, “Please give dogs in. It gives them the best chance of getting home.”

Now back at home, life has returned to normal for Bridget and Bronwhyn Bourke. “No more adventures just at the moment,” says Ms Bourke. “I think she appreciates home a lot more… I still can’t believe we got her back, it’s amazing!”

Photo: Ali Blogg - Bronwhyn Bourke reunited with Bridget