Stolen dog back home after two years

A good memory, dedicated searching and plain good luck by the Auckland SPCA led to a missing dog of two years being reunited with his delighted owner at the weekend.

Red the ridgeback was stolen - with owner Sid Stuart-Menteath's car - about two years ago in Auckland.

Red was reported missing to the Lost and Found Pet Service run by the SPCA, and 83-year-old Mr Stuart-Menteath kept up the search for six months, regularly calling animal shelters, and pounds. He eventually lost hope and gave away Red's collar and lead.

But last week the Manukau pound brought a number of dogs in to the SPCA for "rehoming" - among them an older ridgeback.

Each dog has to undergo a vet check, and through Red's check it was noted he was neutered and had matching Vs out of each ear.

Hospital and shelter manager Rachel Green has worked for the Auckland SPCA for a number of years, and the description of Red sounded familiar.

"The ear notches rang a bell with me, as I remembered a year or so ago an older man had lost his ridgeback-cross dog when it was stolen.

"I searched back through our lost and found database and found the details from two years ago. The dog's description and age matched."

Initial hopes were dashed when the phone number on the database was disconnected, but Ms Green wasn't about to give up.

She searched the White Pages online and got an address in Drury.

"One of our drivers dropped a note off to the address in the weekend, but the house was empty so we didn't hold out much hope."

To their great surprise and delight, a woman made contact with the SPCA staff a few days later.

"Apparently one of the neighbours had seen the note and had contacted the woman who had lived in that house. It was her grandfather who had owned Red and he had moved to Rotorua."

The granddaughter came to the SPCA and was able to identify the dog. Mr Stuart-Menteath told the Herald he had feared the worst and imagined Red was dumped, but could have been taken in by someone who probably had a family that included young children.

He said the children would have insisted the family keep the dog.

"I'd love to know who those people were. He's in lovely condition. Whoever had him has looked after him well. He's the same dog I lost in every way."