Early the next morning a bedraggled and ravenous Fitzy appeared at the back door of their Martinborough home, she said. He wolfed down a bowl of food and promptly fell asleep. "Obviously there was great relief. I went outside and called for Twiggy but there was no sign of her," she said.
Family, visitors and some volunteer firefighters from the town later that day scoured nearby riverbanks for the lost puppy, returning empty-handed.
Mrs Reid reluctantly returned to Wellington and from the city pleaded by phone for help and extra vigilance from SPCA, Martinborough neighbours, nearby farmers, territorial authorities, vets, and transport companies. She also posted online notices about Twiggy to petsonthenet.co.nz and Trade Me.
The family left out food and bedding for their lost pet and launched fruitless searches over the ensuing days, while family friend and Martinborough resident Robin Omerod completed daily hunts for the pup that likewise failed.
"We searched and searched over Labour Weekend but it started getting to the point where there was nothing left we could do. On the Monday, we reluctantly set off back to Wellington. Then I got a text from Shaun Draper. He was a farmer I had messaged about Twiggy. His text said 'there was a small black and tan dog with a red harness on the road at my place. I can't catch it.' I called him back immediately and said that is Twiggy. He said she was on the road and was very frightened and very skinny. My heart was absolutely pounding."
An hour later the family were reunited with their wandering puppy amid tears and utter relief. Twiggy had lost a third of her body weight but was checked by a vet and found to be otherwise healthy, Mrs Reid said.
"The relief was immense. She was out there for three weeks, went through flash flooding where the rivers had been at their highest, hurricane force winds and freezing nights. The weather threw everything at her," she said.
Mrs Reid said she was deeply thankful to Mr Draper and everybody else who shared their time, effort and support in the search for Twiggy.
"I made hundreds of calls to just about everyone I can think of and more, and was about to contact all the schools in Martinborough, Gladstone and Featherston as a good way of getting notice out into the various communities. They were all worth it, for just one of them to come back to me. The message is just to never give up."
