‘Miracle’ dogs alive, searches harrowing

The owner of a pair of missing Dunedin dogs says it is a miracle they have been found alive.

Three weeks after losing her dogs, Brighton woman Rowan Newman cuddles up to the recently found...
Three weeks after losing her dogs, Brighton woman Rowan Newman cuddles up to the recently found Floss, who is on a drip at the vets. PHOTOS: STEPHEN JAQUIERY
Brighton woman Rowan Newman said her dogs, Floss (2) and Scruff (3), were found in McLaren Gully Rd on Thursday, 10km away from their home in Big Stone Rd.

The two dogs went missing on April 30, and Ms Newman had spared no expense looking for them.

Between hiring a plane and a drone and advertising, she had spent close to $1000 searching for the dogs.

They were found by a neighbour who was coming home from work.

Scruff was fine aside from scratches but Floss was in bad condition, covered in scabs, missing lots of fur, and one eye had a punctured cornea.

Ms Newman took the dogs to the vet as soon as she picked them up.

Scruff was cleared to return home yesterday, but Floss was being given eye drops every five minutes and would need to see an eye specialist.

Holding Scruff is Quinn Newman (11).
Holding Scruff is Quinn Newman (11).
There was a chance she would lose the eye.

The dog could not lift her head when she was found, Ms Newman said.

Scruff looked to have been feeding and protecting Floss over the weeks.

The search for the dogs had been emotional, and when the temperature started to drop, she started to grieve for her lost pets.
Their return had been a miracle, she said.

"I’m just in awe. I’m over the moon."

Although she was happy the dogs had been found, she said Floss still had a long road to recovery ahead of her.

Ms Newman and her family had been in shock when the dogs were found, and the reality did not hit them until the next morning.

Her children were distraught when the dogs went missing and her youngest was having trouble sleeping.

They had perked up a lot and were happy to see their pets again.

The family would be celebrating with a warm fireplace and pizza for dinner alongside Scruff and the pair’s six puppies.

"It will be just warmth and love tonight."

Ms Newman said she would be buying new beds for the dogs as a treat for them.

She had only spoken to the man who found the dogs briefly, but he had so far declined any reward.

wyatt.ryder@odt.co.nz

 

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