Lost Island pouch finds ‘a dog’s way home’

HAPPY days! The owners of a much-loved Rottweiler, Heidi, are ecstatic about the return of their pet, a full 31 days after the dog went missing.

Many business owners in Cowes, and elsewhere around Phillip Island, along with shoppers, are aware, from the large number of photo signs placed around the place, that Heidi has been missing.

She went missing from a holiday home in Walpole Street Cowes on New Year’s Eve, and despite desperate efforts by owner of the dog, Matthew Scavo, family and friends; they couldn’t locate the dog.

Finally, after the family returned to Melbourne, the dog was located on a rural property on Pyramid Rock Road, reportedly in a poor condition.

“She been to the vet and she’s pretty skinny and a bit sick, but she’ll recover. We’re just happy to have her home,” said Matthew.

Mr Scavo said his family was visiting South Australia at the time and the dog escaped from his parents home on New Year’s Eve as a result of the firework.

But he has prised highly the response from the local community.

“It’s been phenomenal. I couldn’t tell you how many people have contacted me with offers for help, all the way from San Remo to The Esplanade in town and everywhere in between.

“We put up a video that got a lot of hits and there’s been almost 3000 people come online to say how happy they are Heidi has been found.

“It’s pretty overwhelming, amazing really”.

Staff at Subway in Cowes were typical of the local response.

“We’ve all been worried. It’s great she’s been returned,” they said as one of the staff members took down the “Heidi missing” sign.

But Matt reserved the highest praise for the Phillip Island farmer ‘Peter’ who fund the dog.

“He’s been fantastic. We can’t thank him enough,” he said.