Hurley, a 5-year-old Rottweiler, is missing from her Rotorua home. The "big teddy bear" was last seen wearing a green collar like that pictured. Photo / Supplied
A Rotorua family desperate for the return of their pet dog is offering a cash reward for whoever can bring their "big teddy bear" back.
Hurley, a 5-year-old Rottweiler, hasn't been seen by Hope Trevelyan and her family since April 24.
Not knowing where the dog is or what condition she might be in was "heartbreaking", Trevelyan said.
"She's our big girl, my 2-and-a-half-year-old is telling me every morning after breakfast; 'Mum, where's Hurley? We have to bring her home, Hurley gone'."
"It breaks my heart, even more, when it comes from her. We search every day and night, driving around, walking, whistling out to her, calling her name. She isn't just a dog, she is family. That's why we will search to the ends of the earth for her until she's safe back with us."
The family have spent countless hours searching around Rotorua and their Western Heights neighbourhood.
"I have put flyers everywhere I can think of, including mailboxes in all suburbs, reserves, gas stations, shops, liquor stores.
"I've handed them out to people on the streets until I ran out."
Trevelyan, a student, was offering a $200 reward for Hurley's return.
"My partner and I got her when she was six weeks old. She was brought up on a farm the majority of her life until we recently moved into Rotorua …".
The family moved from Pongakawa in April 2019, where Hurley grew up around all sorts of animals, big and small. Her best friend was a cat, who now lives with Trevelyan's inlaws.
"Hurley is a big teddy bear, she's really playful and kid-friendly. She loves a good walk in the dog park and interacting with other animals. She's not aggressive in any way but knows when to be on guard.
"She is house trained, so she's like a kid and lets us know when she needs to go toilet. She loves chewing up the firewood and playing tug of war. She's a happy, cuddly softie. There is absolutely no reason why she wouldn't want to come home. She is very loyal to us as we are to her."
Trevelyan said their home had a fully fenced back section so it was odd Hurley had gotten out so easily.
In spite of the heartache, Trevelyan was touched by the offers of help from the Rotorua community since.
"I feel like the disappearance of our girl hasn't just impacted on us, but everyone in our town," she said.
"We decided to put a reward up as the days went by, in the hopes that someone would come forward. The people in the Rotorua community have come to feel like family to us and some people have gone out to find her themselves. I had a lovely woman contact me and offered to print 50+ flyers for us to distribute all over Rotorua, which I have."
Hurley has a distinctive skin tag on her belly. Her disappearance has been reported to Rotorua Lakes Council and the police.
If anyone recognises Hurley and knows where she might be, they are asked to contact the authorities.
'This decision has not been made lightly'.