Maxine Ransom's missing miniature poodle Indiana has returned home safely, thanks to an eagle-eyed Wanganui Chronicle paper boy. Indiana went missing on Saturday after a car accident in Heads Rd. Ms Ransom, who was travelling back from a dog show in Paraparaumu, hit a power pole less than two blocks from herhome, causing Indiana's dog crate to pop open. She and another dog, which was found shortly after the accident, jumped out and ran off. Kiela Te Awhe, 13, was walking home from his round at about 5.20am yesterday when he noticed a dog sitting in the long grass of an empty section across the road from his Polson St home. Kiela said he left the dog, which was growling at him, and went home to double check it was the same dog reported missing in yesterday's Wanganui Chronicle. "I had a look to make sure it was the lost dog, and then I went and picked it up." Kiela said Indiana was shaking but sat quietly while he picked her up and carried her to his house, where he put her in the shed. Ms Ransom, who was released from Wanganui Hospital last night, was in bed asleep when she got a call to say Indiana had been found. "I was up and out the door to get her back," she said. Ms Ransom said she wanted to thank everyone who helped look for Indiana. Kiela was given a $200 reward for finding the dog. Indiana is the second dog to be recovered by Wanganui Chronicle readers. Amanda Jane Emery's 15 year-old bichon frise Georgie went missing from outside a doctor's surgery in Marton, but was found in the garden of a Castlecliff woman, who recognised him from his photo in the Chronicle.
