Strangers rally to rescue labs
‘Incredible’ effort as community help in search for loveable pair stuck in swamp
I couldn’t believe the support from the community down there.
Apair of labradors stuck in swampland for two days have been rescued after a huge community effort involving members of the public, their kayaks and a boat.
Sibling labradors Gus and Fenn ran away from their owners’ neighbour who was walking them on Wednesday in Te Atatu Peninsula in West Auckland.
Fenn became stuck when her lead wrapped around the mangroves and her brother refused to leave her side.
Their owner Sam Joyce, who lives in Greenhithe, said she was overwhelmed by the efforts of the public who responded to a post on the Te Atatu Facebook page for assistance in the search.
The Fire Service also assisted. “I couldn’t believe the support from the community down there . . . there was a fire truck, the helicopters were going, there was 10 to 20 people in kayaks, and these lovely guys came out on their boat,” Joyce said.
“From the kayaks we couldn’t get to them, they were stuck in the mangroves. The little golden one, she had a long lead on her and that was wrapped around the mangroves and was completely stuck. When the tide was coming in she was sitting in water and quite distressed.
“The chocolate one, her brother, he was free but he wouldn’t leave her, just sitting there with her. We couldn’t reach them from the mangroves, it was too thick, but the boat went out into the channel and luckily was able to pick them up.
“It was pretty incredible considering we don’t know anybody, we’re not from the community.”
A spokesman for the Fire Service said they were notified of the missing dogs yesterday morning by a woman who called them after hearing the dogs howling.
Joyce said she “couldn’t believe” someone had not found Gus and Fenn two days on because they were microchipped and collared with their phone number.
“We’ve been completely beside ourselves. These two, they’re not survivalist type dogs, they’re two big labradors who basically would do anything for a pat and some food, so the thought of them being out there was pretty awful. By the end of two days we were thinking the worst.”
Reports of the missing dogs first appeared on Facebook on Wednesday, in a post made by a friend of the Joyces.
“Please if anybody sees these two get in touch asap, they do not know the area as are from Greenhithe, we are all very worried!” it read.
An update at about 10am yesterday morning said there were reports of howling in the mangroves.
“We are not sure where but the owners have gone out on their kayak to look. Please keep an eye and ear out as they have been missing for 2 days now. [If] you have a kayak please maybe join the search.”
The Fire Service began a search at about 11am, and an assisting member of the public retrieved the dogs about 20 minutes later.
Joyce said they were remarkably in perfect health, considering their ordeal.
“They’re fine, other than being quite tired and a little bit thirsty and hungry . . . All cuddled up and having a sleep now.”
Sam Joyce