Oh where, oh where has the little dog gone
For two weeks a papillon dog has evaded traps, search dogs and her besotted human owners and remains at large in Otatara neighbourhood.
Nisha was one of three papillon dogs given a new home after her previous owner relocated to the United Kingdom.
Owner Catherine Smith said Nisha had only been at her home for about 10 minutes before the pooch made her great escape.
Her partner David opened the back door to put his work boots outside and the dog ran out. ‘‘I didn’t even get to pat her.’’ Smith said she has seen Nisha almost every day for the past two weeks. ‘‘We just want her home.’’ When Smith saw Nisha on Thursday she said the dog was looking sprightly despite staying out in the cold and wet conditions.
‘‘I saw her today when I was putting a big pork chop in the trap, knowing that if she grabbed part of it she would set off the trap.’’
Nisha had been watching her bait the trap for the last 10 days, which was about the best their relationship had been, Smith said.
Nisha has been staying in bushes and hiding out in the neighbour’s hay bales and she has allegedly been taking cat food and chicken feed.
A search dog was used to look for Nisha but only found where she had been staying, Smith said.
‘‘She’s found her own little domain. There’s no laws. No one controlling her and the new owner goes out and feeds her every day. What more could she want?’’
Nisha, who was no bigger than a cat, has managed to elude the traps which were made for possums, Smith said.
However, Smith believed the only way they were going to catch her was in one of the traps.
Smith is determined to bring Nisha home. ’’I know it’s not going to be easy, but she is a beautiful little dog.’’