As Susan Nelson drove back from the Coromandel Peninsula yesterday, she had everything packed safely in the car except for Googie, her much-loved tabby cat.
The 11-year-old cat had arrived at Cooks Beach with her owner on Christmas Eve but went out for a walk eight days ago andremains missing, despite Mrs Nelson's desperate attempts to find her.
Thames SPCA volunteer Tania Keane said lost or forgotten pets were often left behind on the Coromandel during the holiday season. The problems often start at the beginning of the holidays when families stop for a break at the shops or a park.
Everyone gets out of the car, including the pets. Some animals wander off and do not come back, while others are accidentally left behind.
In other cases, pets become lost or disorientated and cannot find their way back to their holiday home.
Some are run over on unfamiliar roads.
In Googie's case, she seems to have wandered off - or at least that is what Mrs Nelson is hoping.
The distressed owner has called the SPCA, searched tirelessly along the roads and beach and placed signs all over the Cooks Beach area asking if anyone has seen a grey cat with a white belly and paws and a pink collar.
Mrs Nelson was forced to return to her Auckland home without a valued member of the family.
"It's quite devastating really. I have had her for 11 years."
Ms Keane said many of the missing pets eventually turned up.
Some were picked up by other holidaymakers and taken to the SPCA at the end of the holidays.
So far the Thames SPCA has received about 20 family dogs in this way. Most of them have been returned to grateful owners because the dogs were wearing collars.
Ms Keane recommends that owners should leave food in the area the pet was last seen. They should also contact the SPCA in Thames, Hamilton and Auckland, in case someone has found the animal and taken it back to a main centre.
