Heartbreaking loss for man’s best friend

A CHRONIC fatigue sufferer is desperately searching for answers to the whereabouts of his companion dog that went missing during a camping trip at Cockle Creek earlier this month.

Standard cream poodle Zara, 9, ran after a wallaby in dense bushland behind the Finns Beach campground about 2pm on December 1.

Owner Clive Aver, 55, of Kingston, chased after Zara but she disappeared and never returned.

“We don’t know if she got lost, tied up, bitten by a snake or taken by someone,” Mr Aver said.

“It’s been horrific for us.

My whole family has been in tears because they know what she means to me. We’ve searched everywhere and put posters all over the place but no one has called.

“I’m very hopeful she’s alive but I know I have to start accepting that she may not be.

“I’d rather a body than never know.

“At least I would know she’s not suffering.”

Mr Aver, who was first diagnosed with chronic fatigue in 2006, bought Zara as a puppy nine years ago after his doctor suggested a companion dog could help him cope.

Chronic fatigue syndrome causes extreme fatigue that cannot be explained by any other medical condition.

Other symptoms include headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, memory loss and poor concentration.

Mr Aver said even in moderate cases a sufferer was mostly housebound.

“There’s been times when I haven’t got out of bed and Zara has just stayed with me all day,” he said.

“It’s the only contact I’ve got with another soul a lot of the time.

“She not just a dog. She’s been my best friend.”

Zara is microchipped and was wearing a purple collar with a pink name tag at the time of her disappearance.

Any information can be emailed to caver@internode.on.net