RIPPER FINALLY HOME SAFE
ALEISHA Keast feared she would never see her beloved dog again after he disappeared from her Nerang backyard last Monday.
Two days later she was reunited with her 18-month-old blue staffordshire terrier, Ripper, thanks to the work of people she had never met 30 kilometres away in Ormeau.
Ripper was taken to the pound by the Ormeau family after they had seen the dog being treated badly by their neighbour.
Police are now investigating whether Ripper was dognapped, after he was rescued from the northern Gold Coast yard by a neighbour.
The day the pup went missing Ms Keast let Ripper into her fully fenced Nerang backyard so he could go to the toilet and just 15 minutes later he was gone.
“On Monday around 12.30pm, I let Ripper out for a wee and went upstairs for a bit,” Ms Keast said.
“I realised it was really quiet, which is unusual … so I came back down and realised he was gone.”
In a panic Ms Keast searched the neighbourhood and knocked on every door in her street.
Once she knew he wasn’t in the area she contacted the pound, local vets, put up flyers and posted on social media.
“I usually keep him inside, I don’t let anyone see him in the yard,” she said.
“When I go for walks I’m really alert and watch out for people, because I’ve heard so many stories of dognappings.
“And because he’s a blue staffy and he’s my baby, I’ve been so protective.
“I didn’t want to think about him being stolen – that was my biggest fear.
“I posted on Gold Coast Buy Swap and Sell, and another Facebook page – there was about 1000 shares in total (by Tuesday night).
“Everyone was helping out. It was overwhelming.”
Last Wednesday Ms Keast decided to visit the pound again, in case he had been handed in. Coincidentally, a group of people were at the pound waiting with Ripper at the same time.
“As I walked in, he was there. I couldn’t believe it,” Ms Keast said. “Luckily I ran in to the people who brought him in, and if I hadn’t I wouldn’t have got the story about what happened.”
Ms Keast said the people who took Ripper to the pound had seen him appear in their neighbour’s yard the day he went missing.
She said the neighbours claimed the dog had been badly treated, prompting them to rescue him and take him to the nearest pound.
“I am just so relieved, he hasn’t left my sight,”Ms Keast said. “I want other owners to beware ... they should be safe in your own yard, but sometimes they’re not.”
Police confirmed Ripper was found in an Ormeau yard, before concerned neighbours took him to the pound. No charges have been laid.
... I’VE HEARD SO MANY STORIES OF DOGNAPPINGS. ALEISHA KEAST