A Taradale family looking to enjoy a night away left their devoted bulldog with friends in Takapau.
Early the next morning - Monday, October 31 - the bulldog, Nelson, vanished from the rural property and hasn’t been seen since.
Despite extensive searches, several sightings of dogs that turned out not to be Nelson, and flyers posted all over Takapau, the dog is still missing and his increasingly distraught owners are now offering a substantial reward for his return.
Nelson is two years old, registered, microchipped and has been owned by his Taradale family since he was just eight weeks old, growing up with their four-year-old daughter as her favourite playmate.
His owner Zoe says Nelson isn’t aggressive and has never spent a night outside in his life.