Far North family finds their missing dog rehomed while they attended funeral

A Far North family want their Darlene back after she wandered off and was rehomed while they were away. Photo / supplied

A Far North family is desperate to be reunited with their dog which went missing and was rehomed by the council pound while they attended a funeral.

Geraldine McLatchie's dog Darlene, a 9-year-old female Maltese, went missing from her Matangirau property near Whangaroa in April while she was away for 10 days at her step-son's funeral in Wellington.

Her daughter Joe Paul, who lives in Auckland, said the dog was being looked after by a cousin who lived nearby and dropped round to feed her.

However, while they were gone their cousin went to the hospital to have a baby and when she returned to check on the dog, she had disappeared.

The dog was not registered or microchipped and did not have a collar or name tag.

"We contacted the council after coming across a Facebook post to adopt our dog Darlene only to be told she has been rehoused and if her new owners are not willing to return her to us then they can't help us get her back," Paul said.

"Hopefully the family she has been rehoused with will come forward and return our Darlene.

"Already we've had a loss in our family - we just want our dog back."

The family were away for 10 days from April 18 to 28 and believe the dog could have wandered out the dog door.

The property is not fenced, "but she's a house dog, and it's not like her to roam", McLatchie said.

"Sometimes she goes to the bush and sulks for a few days if she doesn't get her own way.

"When we got her nine years ago microchipping wasn't a big thing. She's never gone anywhere for us to register her.

Darlene was part of the family. Photo / supplied

"All our animals are free-range. She thinks she can round up the cows, she thinks she's a farm dog. She's like one of the kids."

When the family returned to the Far North, they visited the SPCA in Kerikeri and contacted the Bay of Islands Animal Rescue group and council pound.

A council worker told them the dog matching Darlene's description was picked up in the New World car park in Kaikohe, some 60km away.

'We don't understand how she got to Kaikohe.

"I think someone tried to take her and she ran away and tried to find her way home."

Far North District Council acting district services general manager Rochelle Deane said animal control officers picked up a female Maltese from Bay of Islands Veterinary Services Kerikeri branch on April 21.

"She was scanned for a microchip; however, none was found," Deane said.

"There was no registration dog tag, so it was not possible to identify a possible owner that way."

A photo and description of the dog was posted on the council's 'Is this your dog?' webpage for 10 days, Deane said, then she was assessed and advertised for adoption.

"Fortunately, a new family wanted to care for Darlene.

"After our standard checks to ensure her new home would be secure and loving, she was successfully adopted.

"The family has invested considerable time and money ensuring that Darlene has settled into their home and they believe the dog is now happy where she is."

Deane said she has reviewed the case and is confident animal management officers followed the correct processes.

"I am confident animal management officers...did all they could to find the dog's owner and, when that failed, to ensure she found a loving home."

The case underlines the importance of responsible dog ownership, Deane said.

"Your property must be secure, and your dog controlled at all times.

"However, we know that dogs do sometimes wander.

"To ensure your dog has the best chance of being returned home, please register and microchip your pet as soon as possible, and keep address and contact details updated."