February 13, 2013
Plaintive barking coming from Yarraman Creek prompted local residents Susan and Scott Reilly to investigate … and what they found stunned them.
The Reillys live close by the creek and know the area well. Following the barking, they found a small, white terrier bogged up to her belly in the creek mud, unable to move.
It was around dusk on Sunday, January 13.
The couple cooled and cleaned the badly dehydrated dog, gave her water and fed her before bedding her down for a sleep.
Then they phoned friends, neighbours, the Yarraman IGA supermarket, Toowoomba Regional Council, and even ABC Southern Queensland in an attempt to find the owner – all with no success.
Meanwhile, almost 2km away, Carrie-Ann Stevenson and her children were frantically searching for their much-loved family pet, a 16-year-old Maltese terrier called Kimba.
The little dog had gone missing on January 11.
After days of fruitless searching in summer heat, they’d begun to despair of ever seeing their beloved pet again.
But back at the Reillys, Susan and Scott had begun to fear the little dog they found may have been dumped. No one seemed to know who owned it.
Roberta Lean, from Yarraman Produce and Hardware – who also works with Wildlife Carers – volunteered to take it to the vet for a check-up.
Kathy Webb, at the Fitzroy County Veterinary Surgery in Nanango, examined her the next day and then scanned for a microchip.
And she struck paydirt … the dog was registered.
“This little Maltese is lucky to be alive,” Dr Webb said.
“Her condition was deteriorating when she was found. But we were able to locate her microchip immediately, and from that we were able to find the owners’ phone number on the Central Animal Registry.
“We rang the number, left a message and the owners rang back very soon after. They were astonished but very, very happy that their little dog was still alive.
“Microchipping has proven its value over the years. My staff have located numerous lost animals’ owners because their pets have been microchipped.”
Kimba was reunited with her joyful owners late on Monday afternoon.
“We are so grateful to Scott and Susan for finding our precious little dog, and to Roberta and everyone else who helped get her back home to us,” owner Carrie-Ann said.
“After days of searching and finding no sign of her, we’d given up hope.
“I didn’t think there was any way she could’ve survived in those temperatures. It was extremely upsetting not knowing where she was or what had happened.
“So I couldn’t believe it when the vet called up to say someone had found our dog. It was amazing! We are so happy to have her home with us!”
Pawnote: Less than a fortnight later Yarraman Creek turned into a raging torrent during the Australia Day weekend floods. Little Kimba definitely wouldn’t have survived if she’d had her adventure then. Fortunately, she was at home safe and dry when the rains began to pour down.
