Dog owner’s year of hell
THE heartbroken owner of Biggie, a British bulldog taken from outside a northern Gold Coast home last year, is convinced the pair will never again be reunited.
Owner Nadine Steedman told the Bulletin she “truly believes” her beloved pooch is “gone” more than a year on from his disappearance – but that won’t stop her trying to get answers.
It was March 21 last year when the then two-year-old dog with bright hazel eyes was snatched from the family’s Gaven property as heavy rain battered the city.
Despite a massive campaign that made national headlines and $5000 cash reward on offer, the devastated family is no closer to finding their boy.
Sadly, the months following Biggie’s disappearance only brought further heartache as cruel trolls preyed on the Steedman’s desperation.
In other instances, genuine reported sightings by the public fell short.
“Those moments have been quite disheartening, so we’ve learned not to get our hopes up anymore,” Ms Steedman explained, at times becoming emotional.
“There has been a lot of threatening and nasty messages too. What we’ve been through in the last year with his case, I’m a pretty strong woman but it took a toll on me.
“Some people say we don’t post enough messages to his Facebook page but I had to back off, the whole situation was hard enough without those horrible messages.”
CCTV footage from neighbouring properties reportedly showed two vehicles, occupied by a group of teens, leaving the home around the time Biggie disappeared.
The latest report of a sighting came from Sydney after earlier sightings across Holmview, Beenleigh, Waterford and Redbank Plains.
It is understood relatives of an alleged teen criminal reached out to Ms Steedman personally to confirm the boy, 14, took Biggie.
Police have done little to act on this crucial piece of information, according to Ms Steedman.
“It feels like the police gave up a long time ago, even with the information that we reported to them about the people who I believe to be involved, which I felt was quite sad,” Ms Steedman said.
“I believe Biggie is gone, I truly don’t believe I’ll see him again.
“I’d rather he have been dead than just not knowing where he is.”
But that does not mean she is giving up trying to bring her beloved pooch home.
“The community response is still massive. Every day we receive loads of messages, people sending us well wishes or people contacting us thinking they’ve seen Biggie.
“It’s just never ended, I thought after a year people’s efforts would have dropped off by now but they haven’t at all.”
A Queensland Police spokeswoman said investigations were continuing: “Detectives from the Gold Coast district and Logan district criminal investigation branches, as well as uniform officers across a number of divisions, have conducted thorough and comprehensive investigations over the past year,” she said.
“Police have followed up on all information provided to them and all intelligence sourced throughout the duration of the investigation.
“At this stage, there have been no confirmed sightings of the dog and there is no evidence which identifies who is responsible.”
Anyone with information on Biggie’s whereabouts is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444 and quote QP number: QP2100548074.