The mystery of the small dog living wild on the streets of Marton has been solved but he still remains at large.
The dog is 4-year-old Benson, an Australian terrier and former show-dog originally from Rotorua.
A woman, who wouldn't be named, called the Chronicle yesterday and said she knew the little dog. He had been given to a local man about two months ago.
But no sooner had he arrived at the man's house, the dog took off and has been living on the streets ever since.
"He's been impossible to catch because he's such a scared little thing no one can get near him ... he really is running scared."