Duke, a spirited 5-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, found himself in unfamiliar territory in Terrey Hills but was eventually reunited with his elderly owner, just in time for Christmas, thanks to the efforts of a dutiful Northern Beaches Council ranger.
The dog’s journey began when he was discovered wandering around The Palms eatery in Terrey Hills on 18 Nov 2023. Taylor, one of the waitstaff on duty that day, took notice of the lost pup and inquired about his owner, yet no one stepped forward.
Compassionately, Taylor and her partner took the dog under their care, temporarily naming him Carlos, and provided him with a loving home until his true family could be located. The couple also reached out on social media as they were committed to reuniting “Carlos” with his rightful owner.
But it was a Council ranger’s persistent efforts that would ultimately solve the mystery. Upon scanning Duke’s microchip, the ranger made an astonishing discovery—it was linked to a landline in Narrabri, over 500+ kilometres away from Northern Beaches.
After five days of trying to get in touch with the dog’s owner, the ranger finally talked to Kevin, 86. He confirmed that Duke had been missing and was utterly baffled by how his furry friend had ventured so far from home.
“Duke didn’t come home around the usual time after he’d gotten out, so I went to his usual spots to have a look,” Kevin recalled.
“I checked the caravan park, which is a usual hot spot of his, but he wasn’t there, so I walked around the streets close to home and couldn’t find him.”
“I didn’t expect him to be all the way down there. I was surprised and shocked that Duke had actually got that far. I thought he’d only get as far as Gunnedah, not Sydney! Someone must have picked him up because he wouldn’t have gone on his own.”
With the mystery resolved, a new challenge presented itself—how to safely return Duke to his loving home in Narrabri. However, this was a task that Mona Vale Council was more than equipped to handle.
Pet Uber transported Duke to Newcastle, where he stayed with Kevin’s granddaughter for a few days. From there, Duke embarked on the final leg of his journey, as Kevin’s son-in-law drove him back to Narrabri.
As the holiday season approaches, Kevin and Duke are celebrating a heartwarming Christmas reunion. It’s clear that Kevin will be keeping a watchful eye on his adventurous companion in the days to come.
Published 20-Dec-2023
